tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9728975317565085562019-01-15T08:29:22.417+00:00NintendoPlay: Everything Nintendo Without all the AdsThis is NintendoPlay: A Place to Find Nintendo News, Reviews and Features and Videos without constantly being bombarded with erroneous click-bait advertisements. | Switch | 3DS | GameCube | N64 | SNES | NES. Also, Find us on Facebook and Twitter to Join the Conversation!Curtis Chapmannoreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-972897531756508556.post-65793216553330403782018-05-18T02:07:00.000+01:002019-01-07T18:21:37.847+00:00Review: Yonder: Cloud Catcher Chronicles<div class="showpic"></br><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2O5c5Kycl2c/Wv4kVCGYxdI/AAAAAAAADVA/r0YIBYWiBkEH7bNmy3vDozoPBl7eM_QIACKgBGAs/s320/Yonder.png" alt="Review Yonder" /></div><h3> Slow and steady wins the race. </h3><br/><br/><a name='more'></a><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><div> <img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xx7pN9DqIwo/WkqThS0JxUI/AAAAAAAABSQ/75zNp0S0Ah0IYj37nsPXvW3Z0_oY6yS8QCKgBGAs/s1600/postConvo.png" alt="Join the Conversation!" usemap="#socialMap"/><map name="socialMap"> <area shape="circle" coords="198,97,26" href="https://www.facebook.com/NintendoPlayUK/posts/1875827726048351" target="_blank" alt="React on Facebook"> <area shape="circle" coords="253,97,26" href="https://twitter.com/NPlayUK/status/997286976377278464" target="_blank" alt="React on Twitter"></map> </div></br></br></br></br> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; width:700px; padding-left:20px; margin-bottom:50px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:20px;"><b> Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles </br></b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:14px;"><b> Prideful Sloth | Nintendo Switch | Digital and Physical </br> 1 Player </br> </b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:12px;"> <b>Reviewed by: Curtis Chapman </b></br></br><b>* Review Code Provided by: Prideful Sloth * </b> </br></br> </br> </div></br></br></br><div style="clear:both;"></div></div> <div style="clear:both; margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br><b><em>Australian developer Prideful Sloth are taking a micro-AAA approach to making a blockbuster looking title with Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles. Releasing today and priced at £22.99 on the Nintendo eShop, and with a physical release also in stores now, Do you think you have what it takes to sit and watch the grass grow for a while? </b></em> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br>Believe it or not, blasting aliens sent from another world or jumping around frantically between platforms to save royalty isn’t everyone’s idea of a fun night in. Some just like to relax with the opportunity to escape to a place where everything is a little slower paced, where you are free to take your time and participate in the development of the world around them. Though many have tried, few have managed to find that middle ground where the players of these two worlds coexist, providing therapeutic and relaxing gameplay while still containing a narrative that has sufficient overall momentum to truly engage. It looks as if developer Prideful Sloth may have found that place and its name is Gemea. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vsPpRgL-tXs/Wv4hE1JYWPI/AAAAAAAADUY/UW_awdNpXjw8H0dZvoJgZN_MlJTX2br_ACKgBGAs/s1600/yonder1.jpg" alt = "Yonder Screenshot 1" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles places you in the shoes of an unnamed protagonist of your own creation, initially allowing you to choose a gender and a range of basic customisation options; it begins with your journey on your return to Gemea. Initially sent away by your parents to keep you safe from the darkness that had enveloped the land, with only your Celestial Compass for guidance, you wash up on its shores and set out to find your parents and in the process attempt to cure the darkness that has troubled Gemea for so long. </br></br>As a pacifistic title, there is absolutely no combat to be found in Yonder’s open-world locales. Gameplay consists of exploration, gathering, crafting, farming and fishing mechanics and is all wrapped up in the main narrative that has you travelling the land, ridding the land of the darkness, improving the quality of the land, the happiness of its residents and attempting to find your parents in the process. The game’s content is split into quests that can be obtained from the various residents across the land. These quests initially serve as a form of tutorial, outlining the games various mechanics, though as you progress it will task you with utilising all of your skills to gather and create items required to progress. </br></br>While the games fairly linear campaign isn’t that long, around 6 to 7 hours in length total, it’s the extra content in the form of sub-quests that really begins to stretch out the games playtime, giving you items to craft, fish to catch and new character customisations to find. Even this is only the beginning however, as the therapeutic nature of the game lends itself perfectly to instantly being picked up and played whenever you feel the need to just relax, tending to your farms, participating in seasonal specific events and generally just having a wander around.</BR></BR>If, after all that, you’re still looking for things to do, normal exploration is compounded by the option to find hidden Cats dotted around the Gemea. With no map markers to guide you on your way, you’ll need your game’s volume up high as the only clue you’ll receive is a faint meowing whenever you are near to a covert feline. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oCTazlUEAWI/Wv4hE-vMxOI/AAAAAAAADUY/RfYZ4IZK0YQK-fcDuNmiZJN0-Oi4U83RgCKgBGAs/s1600/yonder2.jpg" alt="YonderScreenshot 2" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>The key benefit of having a title that goes out of its way to avoid conflict and create a safe space for the player is its accessibility for the younger gamer. For those starting their journey into the world of video games, possessing little to no experience in the coordination required in manipulating a character in 3D space, Yonder will have them feeling instantly at ease with the simplistic nature of the game’s basic activities such as gathering resources. The extensive use of universal signage allows players of any age to understand what is required of them to interact with an item or harvest point and while some gamers may be too young to understand (or even read) the game’s story or dialog, they certainly won’t be disappointed wandering around Gemea, watching the seasons change and tending to the land, all the while learning and developing the essential skills required in almost any modern video game, without the stress of being defeated by in-game enemies. </br></br>The game controls well and utilises the usual control scheme found in most third-person adventure titles, with one analogue stick moving the character with the other panning the game's camera. Interaction with items and harvest points all operate on a single button, as long as the correct tool has been equipped at the time, with the bumper buttons flicking between all of the usable items in your inventory. While only containing usable items, this inventory can be quite cluttered at times due to the sheer amount different seeds that you obtain, though thankfully there are places to store your items when not immediately required. </br></br>Graphically impressive, Yonder is truly a sight to behold in both Docked or Handheld Mode. The game’s colourful graphics are beautiful and while the world is not always that crowded, standing proudly atop a tall hill and panning the camera around to get a view of the skyline before you will still take your breath away. Settings in the games option menu allow you to adjust the amount of bloom used to sharpen up the picture and also contains a photo mode for those who want to position the games camera and wish to take pictures without the games UI getting in the way. Sadly the occasional frame hiccup was experienced in Handheld Mode, though not often or drawn out enough to be of any real concern. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XZHbqcxBXzs/Wv4hE8nWNYI/AAAAAAAADUY/YAO1T-GV19wc60ASS51K1j9rshE4SQEfgCKgBGAs/s1600/yonder3.jpg" alt="Yonder Screenshot 3" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br> After a thorough play, It goes to show that it is wholly possible to have a deep and engaging game without the need for combat at all and is a testament to the graphical capabilities of the Nintendo Switch to boot. Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles is an essential purchase for anyone open to the idea of a pacifistic open-world adventure. Be prepared to lose hours wandering Gemea’s beautiful vistas, tending to your farm and ensuring you look as dapper as darn possible in the process. </br></br></br></div> </div> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; clear:both; margin-bottom:50px;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; text-align:center; font-size:28px;"><b>FOR THE WIN OR FOR THE BIN?</b></br></br></div></br></br> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left: 30px; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b> &#43; Relaxing and enjoyable gameplay. </br> &#43; Beautiful graphics and exceptional draw distance </br>&#43; Plethora of side content. </br> </br> &#45; Occasional frame hiccup. </b></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left:50px; font-size:22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br><b>Verdict: Above Average – Worth a Try</b> </div><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:20px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /></br></br></br></div> Curtis Chapmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-972897531756508556.post-54204767310390364302018-05-14T11:58:00.000+01:002019-01-07T18:21:58.002+00:00Review: Garage<div class="showpic"></br><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zi14oIM4P2Y/WvizwktYf6I/AAAAAAAADSw/csELt1BHEhE-GRiCp-lCmRPvCFpBinNKACKgBGAs/s320/Garage.pn" alt="Review Garage" /></div><h3> Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the underground parking lot... </h3><br/><br/><a name='more'></a><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><div> <img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xx7pN9DqIwo/WkqThS0JxUI/AAAAAAAABSQ/75zNp0S0Ah0IYj37nsPXvW3Z0_oY6yS8QCKgBGAs/s1600/postConvo.png" alt="Join the Conversation!" usemap="#socialMap"/><map name="socialMap"> <area shape="circle" coords="198,97,26" href="https://www.facebook.com/NintendoPlayUK/photos/a.1874417576189366.1073741830.1817252891905835/1874417086189415/?type=3&theater" target="_blank" alt="React on Facebook"> <area shape="circle" coords="253,97,26" href="https://twitter.com/NPlayUK/status/995975804529070080" target="_blank" alt="React on Twitter"></map> </div></br></br></br></br> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; width:700px; padding-left:20px; margin-bottom:50px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:20px;"><b> Garage </br></b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:14px;"><b> Zombie Dynamics | Nintendo Switch | Digital Only </br> 1 Player </br> </b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:12px;"> <b>Reviewed by: Curtis Chapman </b></br></br><b>* Review Code Provided by: Tiny Build * </b> </br></br> </br> </div></br></br></br><div style="clear:both;"></div></div> <div style="clear:both; margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br><b><em>“Would you like to play a game?” as “When there’s no room in hell, the dead will walk the earth”, so “Be Afraid, be very afraid” because “Something has found us”. We might not be able to pack in a reference to every single horror movie we can think of but Zombie Dynamic’s new top-down twin-stick horror title, Garage, is sure going to give it a try! Out now on the eShop for the Nintendo Switch and currently priced at £13.49, and remember, the next scream may be your own! </b></em> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br>Games have often touted their thematic or graphical inspirations as one of their major selling points in an ongoing battle to convince players to take a chance on a new or unknown IP. Garage by Zombie Dynamics is the first to attempt to boast the VHS-era as the inspiration for its graphical style and is one of its key selling points, attempting to use the imagery of grainy, scanline footage as a form of graphical pizzazz to complement the gritty tones of a top-down Horror title. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cuKbWE8ecZ0/Wvi3tHIflrI/AAAAAAAADTI/nHelA196BkkHCkFTX0XaNTY03ZJZoa3UACKgBGAs/s1600/garage1.jpg" alt = "Garage Screenshot 1" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>A hybrid twin-stick shooter meets survival horror title, Garage nods to the genre at every turn, coming across as a homage to every possible B-Movie Horror flick you could think of. Waking up in the boot of a crashed car in the blood-soaked car park of an underground mall, things aren’t looking good for our good-for-nothing drug dealing protagonist, Butch. With carnage everywhere and multi-appendage abominations on the loose, it quickly becomes necessary to tool up and fight your way through any resistance you come across as you try to piece together what has happened. Though initially intentionally ambiguous, there is a constant drip feed of the story as you progress through the game via character interactions, documents you found and news reports you can watch on TV’s left on throughout the mall. </br></br>While VHS-tag line is certainly unique and the temperamental characteristics of the medium would offer a multitude of possibilities to create unusual graphical filters, that replicated that feel of an overused, dusty and poorly tracked cassette are somewhat lacking in title, with the developer seemingly opting to primarily make used of a scanline filter to achieve the desired effect, with the occasional graphical flourish for good measure. This works well at smoothing out some of the 2D pixel work but pales in comparison to what could have been if the unique hook had been developed on further. The artwork sitting underneath the filter is attractive and the game makes good use of lighting and particle effects to add a reassuring glow to dimly lit rooms and corridors. </br></br>Controlling Butch is a simple task though doesn’t feel as tight and responsive as it should, with the twin-stick movement making your players walk animation feel more like an attempt to maneuver on ice rather than the short, staccato-like reactions that you would expect from someone placed in such a horror-filled, ultraviolent situation. Zombie Dynamics have however attempted to add further variations on how the player moves based on their current situation or amount of remaining health they have, with instances of intoxication or heavy injury causing Butch to react sluggishly, stumble about and generally be harder to handle. This does a good job of adding some player feedback in the absence of the ability to convey these things graphically due to the limiting nature of top-down viewpoint. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X7_6yANoYbc/Wvi33UzJzrI/AAAAAAAADTM/GmMqlO9RfqIAwTB-F1j7MBO4NFsHbuZqgCKgBGAs/s1600/Garage2.jpg" alt="Garage Screenshot 2" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>Combat features both melee and ranged weaponry and is handled in true twin-stick fashion. Garage makes use of a fantastic line of sight mechanic, completely hiding enemies from view if you are unable to see them. This ramps up tension when trying to outmaneuver patrolling enemies as you are never completely sure of their location, and makes running away from a fight and laying in wait around a corner as nerve-racking as simply fighting your foe head-on. There are opportunities to circumvent this by monitoring you adversary on CCTV cameras, though a keen mind and precision are required to remember locations and movement patterns. </BR></BR>Even in its default difficulty Garage is tough and unforgiving, though strangely its one of the games smallest enemies that pose the biggest problem. Rats are littered around each level and although they simply require a kick or two to best, the awkwardness of aiming at such a fast-moving rodent can quickly cause them to swarm and deplete a large amount of your health, if not overwhelm you, killing you off completely. Often hidden in lootable boxes as a surprise to greet you instead of useful supplies, it is understandable that these have been included to add a level of tensions when hunting down for requisite ammunition of health packs but the sheer number of instances they appear, coupled with just how much damage they inflict, is something that should really be addressed to ensure an enjoyable playing experience for the end user. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LuHjEWi7rB0/Wvi3_WjqrlI/AAAAAAAADTQ/Ww8vudmUu9A_pHSDfzH01ChuFcW9LLRnQCKgBGAs/s1600/garage3.jpg" alt="Garage Screenshot 3" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br> Garage is a quality attempt at creating a suspense-filled visceral horror title from the top-down perspective. Though the story isn’t unique and contains almost every trope from the horror movie handbook, the games ability to determine exactly when it needs to switch between fast-paced action and slow survival horror surroundings creates a rollercoaster experience that will entertain you from start to finish.</br></br></br></div> </div> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; clear:both; margin-bottom:50px;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; text-align:center; font-size:28px;"><b>FOR THE WIN OR FOR THE BIN?</b></br></br></div></br></br> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left: 30px; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b> &#43; Suspensful line-of-sight mechanic. </br> &#43; Entertaining trope filled storyline. </br>&#43; High octane gameplay. </br> </br> &#45; Underdeveloped graphical style. </br> &#45; Overpowered rodents. </br> &#45; Floaty character movement. </b></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left:50px; font-size:22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br><b>Verdict: Above Average – Worth a Try</b> </div><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:20px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8YFgURgBUmY/WlcM0tHydTI/AAAAAAAABmA/REYQwA0C5nYxhrhQe9jo97deigQG44TpQCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarHalf.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-right:0px"/><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fc_pL2NK9DY/WlUjZUFf-kI/AAAAAAAABgk/BNKLCbO-EcoM-rl_ds-2ofbXDaCDPr2wACKgBGAs/s1600/ReviewStarNO.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-right:0px"/></br></br></br></div> Curtis Chapmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-972897531756508556.post-74709789825204977422018-05-09T10:52:00.000+01:002019-01-07T18:22:15.399+00:00Review: Death Road to Canada<div class="showpic"></br><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5dYbaZDQUaI/WvQOTBpoB_I/AAAAAAAADQ4/sJij_pgPGF0Xy6zbVADkHrfj3BOQ6mkcQCKgBGAs/s320/DeathRoad.png" alt="Review: Death Road to Canada" /></div><h3> O Canada, We stand on guard for zombies... </h3><br/><br/><a name='more'></a><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><div> <img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xx7pN9DqIwo/WkqThS0JxUI/AAAAAAAABSQ/75zNp0S0Ah0IYj37nsPXvW3Z0_oY6yS8QCKgBGAs/s1600/postConvo.png" alt="Join the Conversation!" usemap="#socialMap"/><map name="socialMap"> <area shape="circle" coords="198,97,26" href="https://www.facebook.com/NintendoPlayUK/photos/a.1823215021309622.1073741829.1817252891905835/1872641769700280/?type=3&permPage=1" target="_blank" alt="React on Facebook"> <area shape="circle" coords="253,97,26" href="https://twitter.com/NPlayUK/status/994520058239078401" target="_blank" alt="React on Twitter"></map> </div></br></br></br></br> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; width:700px; padding-left:20px; margin-bottom:50px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:20px;"><b> Death Road to Canada </br></b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:14px;"><b> Rocket Cat Games | Nintendo Switch | Digital Only </br> 1-2 Players (Local Only) </br> </b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:12px;"> <b>Reviewed by: Curtis Chapman </b></br></br><b>* Review Code Provided by: UKIYO Publishing * </b> </br></br> </br> </div></br></br></br><div style="clear:both;"></div></div> <div style="clear:both; margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br><b><em> You and a friend better brush up on your Canadian National Anthem and dig out that Celine Dion album as Death Road to Canada by Rocket Cat Games is out now and available digitally from the Nintendo eShop, currently priced at £9.59. Fancy a trip north with Santa, a dog and a bright pink Megaman in tow? </b></em> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br>There have been many titles that simulate the struggle in the age of tale of forced immigration and the heartache caused by leaving cherished places and love ones behind for a chance at a better life in pastures green. Death Road to Canada attempts to throw a new simulation into the mix; Instead of your plight being a familiar one, like that of a colonial resettlement or the search for a new home after being displaced through some kind of fascist regime, you are instead thrust into a last-ditch effort to find solace north of the border after a zombie outbreak has left the USA with no safe place to hide. Throughout your journey you will meet quirky playable characters to add to your party (if you so wish), barter for goods and services at settlements that have cropped up alongside the highway, and loot through zombie-infested locales in a desperate search to procure enough of the bare necessities required to complete your treacherous journey along the Death Road. </div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qCD84HpU3xY/WvQSbONMm3I/AAAAAAAADRQ/ZOzDuR8c8zQL4sn40cvJavXudGDR83lFACKgBGAs/s1600/DRC1.jpg" alt = "Death Road to Canada Screenshot 1" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>The game itself is split into two distinct phases; the bulk of your travels will take place on the highway, either by car on foot. Playing out similarly to the 1971 educational classic, The Oregon Trail, your current supplies are displayed on the screen and are occasionally automatically deducted based on the size of your party, simulating the need to eat and fuel your current mode of transportation. Occasionally the game’s engine will randomly create bite-sized scenarios for you and your team to react to; These text-based encounters will present you with bizarre and, at times, ludicrous situations and then have you choose which of your current team members you feel would be best suited to tackle them, taking their overall stats into consideration when determining the chosen outcome. These outcomes can both help or hinder your characters, however, with some upgrading your base stats or granting you supplies, while others hurting or even killing off members of your team, so decisions must be made wisely. Every so often the game will give you the option of choosing where to stop to scavenge for supplies, taking the game into its second phase. </br></br>When entering an outpost or a zombie-infested area to find supplies the game changes to a top-down twin-stick shooter affair, allowing you to collect weapons and items necessary on your journey. Combat is enjoyable and the sheer volume of zombies on the screen at times does little to slow down the game. There is no set time limit during this phase, although dawdling too long will quickly find you overwhelmed by zombies, with them possessing the ability to move between rooms and break down closed doors. When you are ready to leave an area you simply return to your car and head back to the highway, for the cycle to repeat until you reached the Promised Land. Initially, the choices you have to make and the difficulty of the loot stops will feel fairly rudimentary, but as the days tick on and the zombies increase it becomes harder to find the required supplies and the penalties for failure become more severe. Planning and preparation will be required to ensure you manage to survive all the way through your journey. </div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cx18ydc0EdI/WvQSoOoVTrI/AAAAAAAADRU/rl8oznfn2jk0YzqKQLJbNEmO0HVjqFwsACKgBGAs/s1600/DRC2.jpg" alt="Death Road to Canada Screenshot 2" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>One of the most enjoyable elements of Death Road to Canada is the ability to populate the world with characters from your own imagination; giving them a name, completely customising their appearance and equipping them with skills that you feel would define them. These characters can either then be used as your main starting characters or saved into the long list of characters that you may have the chance of meeting on your journey down the road. On your travels you will also collect "Zombo-Tokens", a rogue-like mechanic that will allow you to purchase and upgrade character skills in between playthroughs and giving you more variation in your custom creations. </br></br>You don’t have to brave the Road this journey on your own however as the game features local “jump-in, jump-out” co-op play, allowing two players to hot-swap between any of the characters who are currently traveling with you in your party. While the AI does a good job of moving and attacking with the teammates currently not under your control, it pales in comparison to the skill of a second human player, making the game somewhat easier when played through with a friend. </br></br>The strangest and most welcomed contrast comes when comparing the difference between the underlying theme and its audio track. Instead of the usual miserable and dulcet tones that are usually associated with any game involving zombies, Death Road to Canada’s music is whimsical, upbeat and at times often have you forgetting about the horrors and devastation you are encountering on your journey north. The music itself is well produced and does an excellent job of helping to make light of some of the grim realities of the situation. </br></br>As well as the standard game mode, the title also contains 9 other variations of play that range from different journey lengths, trips that contain rare or only those survivors that you have personally created, to even a difficulty that is so intense that it will give even the most seasoned player a run for their money. With so many different ways to play, all compounded by the random nature of each playthrough; no game will ever feel the same. </div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FiscWTdsiWs/WvQS1RrukaI/AAAAAAAADRY/CB-nmc0s59EtlLIkIv6TDf1NHBkaV_lEQCKgBGAs/s1600/DRC3.jpg" alt="Death Road to Canada Screenshot 3" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>Death Road to Canada is a title that oozes character and charm, with its simplistic 2D styling’s and offbeat music complimenting the wacky nature of the people you meet and fast and unusual situations you find the game throwing your way. With an almost infinite amount of replayability, granting the player the options to completely customise the randomised experience to their liking and skill level, there is more than enough content to keep anyone playing for a long, long time. </br></br></br></div> </div> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; clear:both; margin-bottom:50px;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; text-align:center; font-size:28px;"><b>FOR THE WIN OR FOR THE BIN?</b></br></br></div></br></br> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left: 30px; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b> &#43; Loads of gameplay variations, all randomised each time</br> &#43; Cute & Zany Soundtrack to acompany the mass zombie killing. </br>&#43; In-depth character creator. </br> </br> &#45; May be too unforgiving for some. </br> &#45; Could use a few more gameplay mechanics. </b></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left:50px; font-size:22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br><b>Verdict: Almost There - Highly Recommended</b> </div><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:20px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8YFgURgBUmY/WlcM0tHydTI/AAAAAAAABmA/REYQwA0C5nYxhrhQe9jo97deigQG44TpQCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarHalf.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-right:0px"/></br></br></br></div> Curtis Chapmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-972897531756508556.post-64052428130326921942018-04-26T08:57:00.002+01:002019-01-07T18:22:54.927+00:00Review: Sky Rogue <div class="showpic"></br><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jSGqyHwIMFM/Wt7ikKav3VI/AAAAAAAADK4/R354TdmX6fwBApp8Jfb1TccpC65MEDKagCKgBGAs/s1600/SkyRogue.png" alt="Dive In: Sky Rogue" /></div><h3> I will fire when I'm !*#&$?@ good and ready! You got that? </h3><br/><br/><a name='more'></a><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><div> <img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xx7pN9DqIwo/WkqThS0JxUI/AAAAAAAABSQ/75zNp0S0Ah0IYj37nsPXvW3Z0_oY6yS8QCKgBGAs/s1600/postConvo.png" alt="Join the Conversation!" usemap="#socialMap"/><map name="socialMap"> <area shape="circle" coords="198,97,26" href="https://www.facebook.com/NintendoPlayUK/posts/1866935316937592" target="_blank" alt="React on Facebook"> <area shape="circle" coords="253,97,26" href="https://twitter.com/NPlayUK/status/989423080907923456" target="_blank" alt="React on Twitter"></map> </div></br></br></br></br> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; width:700px; padding-left:20px; margin-bottom:50px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:20px;"><b> Sky Rogue</br></b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:14px;"><b> Fractal Phase | Nintendo Switch | Digital Only </br> 1-2 Players (Local Only) </br> </b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:12px;"> <b>Reviewed by: Curtis Chapman </b></br></br><b> Developers Commentary by: Kenny Backus - Fractal Phase</b> </br></br><b>* Review Code Provided by: Fractal Phase * </b> </br></br> </br> </div></br></br></br><div style="clear:both;"></div></div> <div style="margin: 0px 85px 13.33px; width: 60%; float:left; text-align:center; font-size:14px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b><em>Nintendo Play is joined by Kenny Backus , Lead Developer at Fractal Phase, for the included Developers Commentary. </b></em></div> <div style="clear:both; margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br><b><em>Strap in, take off and feel the need for speed in Fractal Phase’s newest aerial combat title Sky Rogue. Out today on the eShop for £14.99, does the mix of rogue-lite arcade action make this title a true Top Gun, or is it destined to the travel the unprofitable highway into the danger zone? </b></em> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br>Rogue-Lite has been used for some time to describe a perma-death game mechanic that draws inspiration from the OG title that shares the same name. Providing the player light relief throughout their countless deaths and restarts, it allows them to carry over items, skills or currency from their previous attempt, creating a positive feedback loop that essentially has the player pushing further and further through the game’s content in hopes of eventually reaching the finish line. One of the main hurdles in attempting to create a rogue-lite title is finding a way to attach an engaging narrative to a mechanic that essentially see’s you failing more often than not, and while some have succeeded others have either failed miserably or simply not bothered to include one at all. </br></br>Sky Rogue is a rogue-lite aerial combat action arcade title sadly falls into the latter category, with the game not only providing no narrative throughout the entire game but also not feeling the need to include an overall framing device to give you any context into why you are flying around the sky, shooting down drones and bombing bases. Even giving the player reasoning behind their actions would create a connection that would provide the player with greater satisfaction in their successes. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="position:inline; float:left; height:80px; width:10%;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nyickyw8YHw/WmTDMAB9k2I/AAAAAAAAB4U/PpBkhckNqP8n3AEOXMFqqB2nZVrGcaiHgCKgBGAs/s1600/dev%2Bsmall.png" alt="Developers Commentary" align="right" height ="60" /></div><div style="position:inline; float:left; width:63%; margin-left:10px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b><em> Kenny: Having no explicit story was very intentional. It is a common thing in the action flight sim niche (ace combat, hawx, etc) to have a frankly very bad story which gets in the way of gameplay and worsens the experience. I was looking to distinguish myself from the pack. There is a narrative but it's only hinted at in aeropedia descriptions but otherwise left to the players' imagination. </b></em></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5VvWfP3-V3E/WuF4mIiopDI/AAAAAAAADOY/3aiMYk7TRKYkYhb3_fPdz4lKkVvW32x7ACKgBGAs/s1600/sky1.jpg" alt = "Sky Rogue Screenshot 1" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>With an arcade-like look, that is to say, how it would’ve looked if you frequented your local arcade from 1993-1996, the super low polygon count on all of the game’s 3D models and the colour palette that could possibly be counted on two hands look to draw inspiration from classic arcade titles produced by SegaAM, more specifically, anything with “Virtua” as its titles prefix. The art-style is complimented nicely with the equally inspired soundtrack, hoping to cement in the players' mind exactly the type of game that they are playing. </br></br>Fwoosh; the movement of an object at high speed, often referred to when describing the sound an aircraft makes as it passes you by and is the adjective that Fractal Phase has decided to use to define Sky Rogues fast pace and relentless action as you zip through the air. It’s safe to say that this was the right choice in wording as the feeling of breakneck speed while you bank hard to try and get positioned at and enemies flank is often a hard one to replicate and has been achieved perfectly in the game. </br></br>In the main campaign, you are treated to a brief tutorial before being thrust off your flying base into onto a procedurally generated map consisting of several islands dotted with military installations. You are given a random mission which usually involves destroying specific enemy planes or leveling installations and you are then left to your own devices to achieve this task. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="position:inline; float:left; height:80px; width:10%;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nyickyw8YHw/WmTDMAB9k2I/AAAAAAAAB4U/PpBkhckNqP8n3AEOXMFqqB2nZVrGcaiHgCKgBGAs/s1600/dev%2Bsmall.png" alt="Developers Commentary" align="right" height ="60" /></div><div style="position:inline; float:left; width:63%; margin-left:10px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b><em> Kenny: We wanted to respect players' curiosity and let them have the enjoyment of figuring out how to play well themselves. Through in-person playtesting we found ways of teaching players the critically important stuff outside the tutorial, but mostly kept our hands off. Every player is different and some might enjoy a bit more guidance, so we may have let some people down, but we really tried our best to only be as hands-on as seemed necessary. </b></em></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>Each mission can take as little as a minute to complete, though the length and difficulty of these missions increases as you progress through your play through. Once you have completed your mission you are free to return to base, though mopping up the remaining buildings and planes to earn credits and tech points, the two forms of currency in Sky Rogue, is advisable to aid in your progress. Hanging around after finishing a mission quickly becomes a balancing act between increasing the number of credits and tech points you currently have and ensuring that you have enough health to make you return to base safely. </BR></BR>When returning to base you are able to either spend your obtained credits on upgrading your available weapons or swap them out completely to better suit your play style. While you can mix and match the weapons to your heart’s content, each contains two weight stats that need to be balanced with your current ships weight limit. After you have finished tinkering the game moves to the next day and a new mission is generated, with the loop repeated continuously until the conclusion of the game. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pQrwy6TF_nw/WuF3xjV1w3I/AAAAAAAADOI/eZVsOFYh8GwqIzYWShywljo7Ck15OKKywCKgBGAs/s1600/sky2.jpg " alt="Sky Rogue Screenshot 2" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>On your (frequent) death, your upgrades are stripped from your ship and your tech points are added to a research bar that, once filled, earns you a point to use to select a new weapon or ship to add to your arsenal of available ordinance you can choose to enter battle with next time. The overall gameplay loop is quick, action-packed and thoroughly enjoyable and although enemy AI isn’t particularly engaging it will be hard to notice this due to the constant trickle of enemies buzzing around overhead, firing missiles at you as you try and complete your objective. </br></br>Also containing an Endless and Free Flight mode, Fractal Phase has attempted to give the illusion of added content while keeping things pretty much exactly the same. Apart from a few tweaks to gameplay, there is little reason incentive to deviate from the normal mode unless you do not enjoy a particular element of the main campaign. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="position:inline; float:left; height:80px; width:10%;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nyickyw8YHw/WmTDMAB9k2I/AAAAAAAAB4U/PpBkhckNqP8n3AEOXMFqqB2nZVrGcaiHgCKgBGAs/s1600/dev%2Bsmall.png" alt="Developers Commentary" align="right" height ="60" /></div><div style="position:inline; float:left; width:63%; margin-left:10px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b><em> Kenny: The other modes were requested by players during Steam Early Access. You're not missing anything though; Endless is simply a way of playing the game without an endboss and Free Flight is a way to play if you just want to fly around without being shot at. The latter is a common feature in flight simulators so maybe that's why it was requested, though it may seem a bit weird in an action-focused game. </b></em></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>As well as the single player game modes, there is also the option to tackle the games main campaign with a friend in 2 player local co-op, giving you more of the same with the added threat of friendly fire. Additional multiplayer modes such as player-vs-player mode would have been a welcomed addition, though as it stands the main campaign is currently the only multiplayer mode included. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="position:inline; float:left; height:80px; width:10%;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nyickyw8YHw/WmTDMAB9k2I/AAAAAAAAB4U/PpBkhckNqP8n3AEOXMFqqB2nZVrGcaiHgCKgBGAs/s1600/dev%2Bsmall.png" alt="Developers Commentary" align="right" height ="60" /></div><div style="position:inline; float:left; width:63%; margin-left:10px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b><em> Kenny: Player versus Player mode was investigated but the weapons and notably the dodge ability are really balanced for PvE. We could have just put in the mode anyways but wanted to make sure it was done right and didn't detract from the game as a whole, so we simply focused on other parts of the game for release. Other modes are not out of the question, we're always listening to players to know what the best use of our time and energy is. </b></em></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>Physical controls are responsive and not overly complicated, with the ability to invert the Y axis in the game’s menu if required. Those more interested in less realistic control scheme are also catered for, granting you with simpler analogue mappings giving the game that arcade-like feel. For those that fancy some immersive aerial combat, the game features an optional DANGER ZONE split joy-con motion control scheme. With both each hands controlling speed, bank and the other pitch. While fun, the novelty quickly wears off as during in the heat of battle lives can easily be lost and entire playthroughs cut short due to confusion or arm fatigue. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A0PRe98W35U/WuF49PBATmI/AAAAAAAADOg/XUtPqG9gkUsQdhLkausKJ6YgTskatdOewCKgBGAs/s1600/sky3.jpg" alt="Sky Rogue Screenshot 3" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br> Fractal Phases’ Sky Rogue Sits somewhere between being a pure arcade classic and a solid single player rogue-lite title. Without the allure of flashy menus and an attract mode to make it feel like a true arcade hit, or the narrative-driven storyline and engaging objectives to define it as a single player aerial combat title, it fails to truly find its own identity. With a small amount of tweaking in either direction, Sky Rogue could be top of the league in both classes. What it does do it does well however, providing a solid pick up and play experience that will entertain you from the moment you pick it up until the moment you put it down, being simple enough to revisit on occasion without having to worry about spending time re-familiarising yourself with the controls and is still definitely a title that is worthy of your time and attention. </br></br></br></div> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:14px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b><em>Many thanks to Kenny for his discussion during this review. </b></em></br></br></br></br></div> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; clear:both; margin-bottom:50px;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; text-align:center; font-size:28px;"><b>FOR THE WIN OR FOR THE BIN?</b></br></br></div></br></br> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left: 30px; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b> &#43; Fast paced arcade style gamesplay. </br> &#43; Customisble ships and payloads. </br>&#43; A fun to play Co-op Campaign. </br>&#43; Bite-sized missions are ideal for short sessions. </br> </br> &#45; Lacks any discernable storyline. </br> &#45; Extra modes provide little extra value. </b></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left:50px; font-size:22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br><b>Verdict: Very Good Job - Recommended Buy</b> </div><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:20px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fc_pL2NK9DY/WlUjZUFf-kI/AAAAAAAABgk/BNKLCbO-EcoM-rl_ds-2ofbXDaCDPr2wACKgBGAs/s1600/ReviewStarNO.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-right:0px"/></br></br></br></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b><em> For gameplay footage of Sky Rogue, see our see our 10 minute Dive In: <a href="http://www.nintendoplay.co.uk/2018/04/dive-in-sky-rogue.html" target="_blank"> HERE </a> </em></b></div>Curtis Chapmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-972897531756508556.post-43066882461826729172018-04-24T08:58:00.001+01:002019-01-07T18:23:13.458+00:00Dive In: Sky Rogue<div class="showpic"></br><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jSGqyHwIMFM/Wt7ikKav3VI/AAAAAAAADK4/R354TdmX6fwBApp8Jfb1TccpC65MEDKagCKgBGAs/s1600/SkyRogue.png" alt="Dive In: Sky Rogue" /></div><h3> That was some of the best flying I've seen to date — right up to the part where you got killed. </h3><br/> <br/><a name='more'></a><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><div><img src="https://tinyurl.com/ycsanhfu" alt="Join the Conversation!" usemap="#socialMap"/><map name="socialMap"> <area shape="circle" coords="198,97,26" href="https://www.facebook.com/NintendoPlayUK/posts/1866105763687214" target="_blank" alt="React on Facebook"> <area shape="circle" coords="253,97,26" href="https://twitter.com/NPlayUK/status/988691524983705600" target="_blank" alt="React on Twitter"></map></div></br><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 90%; float:left; font-size:16px;"></br></br>Take to the skies in this 10 Minute Dive In of Fractal Phases' Sky Rogue. 3D aerial combat with an aesthetic that wouldn't be out of place in your local arcade in 1995, rouge-lite gameplay, procedurally generated maps, random missions and unlockables make Sky Rogue something new to play on your Nintendo Switch. </br></br>All our videos can be found on our <a href ="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3ZOsC9norDqecjeXRkI9FQ" target="_blank"> YouTube Channel </a>. </br></br><b><em>A full review of Sky Rogue will be available on Thursday 26th April</b></em> </br></br></br></div></br></br> <div style="text-align:center; width:90%" ></br></br><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4Fkxqp70QXg?rel=0&amp;showinfo=0" frameborder="0"gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></div> <div style="clear:both; margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 60%; margin-left:15%; font-size:16px; text-align:center;"></br></br></br><img height='80px' src='https://tinyurl.com/ydfkwfcs' width='80px'/></div></div>Curtis Chapmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-972897531756508556.post-5577991825550369862018-04-20T19:48:00.000+01:002018-04-20T20:00:43.631+01:00Review: The Way Remastered<div class="showpic"></br><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PO7-i_i2miQ/Wtoy0vCc-YI/AAAAAAAADJo/fzcimbhelWIY6F3l8X15pM3EVE550hmhwCKgBGAs/s1600/TheWay.png" alt="Review: The Way Remastered" /></div><h3> Give it Away, Give it The Way, Give it a Play Now! </h3><br/><br/><a name='more'></a><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><div> <img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xx7pN9DqIwo/WkqThS0JxUI/AAAAAAAABSQ/75zNp0S0Ah0IYj37nsPXvW3Z0_oY6yS8QCKgBGAs/s1600/postConvo.png" alt="Join the Conversation!" usemap="#socialMap"/><map name="socialMap"> <area shape="circle" coords="198,97,26" href="https://www.facebook.com/NintendoPlayUK/posts/1864639900500467" target="_blank" alt="React on Facebook"> <area shape="circle" coords="253,97,26" href="https://twitter.com/NPlayUK/status/987405068084359171" target="_blank" alt="React on Twitter"></map> </div></br></br></br></br> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; width:700px; padding-left:20px; margin-bottom:50px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:20px;"><b> The Way Remastered </br></b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:14px;"><b> Puzzling Dream / Sonka Games | Nintendo Switch | Digital Only </br> 1 Player </br> </b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:12px;"> <b>Reviewed by: Curtis Chapman | 20th April 2018 </b></br></br><b>* Review Code Provided by: SONKA Games * </b> </br></br> </br> </div></br></br></br><div style="clear:both;"></div></div> <div style="clear:both; margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br><b><em> Set in a distant future, one man attempts to cope with loss with loss by searching for the power to bring back the dead. With SONKA adding Switch exclusive features to its original 2016 release, The Way Remastered releases today digitally on the Nintendo eShop, priced at £13.49. </b></em> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br>At the dead of night in a cemetery on the outskirts of a futuristic city, a man is poised, shovel in hand. He acknowledges the grave in front of him before he begins to dig, excavating the cold, dead female body and loading it into the back of his van, setting off home. Arriving back to an apartment filled with stacks of scientific papers, geographic reports, and star charts, the man slides the woman, his beloved, into a stasis tube before leaving, setting out to forcibly acquire a spaceship and confident in his research on the location of a place capable of returning the dead to life. This is where our journey begins. </br></br>The Way Remastered is a 2D Action Adventure Platform game, comparable to old school titles such as Flashback, Another World and Prince of Persia. Drawing heavily from multiple elements of the classics, it does well to add much more to mix by including difficult puzzles to solve and multiple new gameplay mechanics to make use of during your travels. Portrayed in a retro-inspired pixel-art, the games crisp backgrounds are expertly animated giving life to the planets you visit and the creatures you meet. </div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VNRw1zdzuFo/Wtoy75n-8kI/AAAAAAAADJs/urlIU-N-L0Ay1vBbtjF3yqYtda2sOLoWACKgBGAs/s1600/TheWay1.jpg" alt = "The Way Screenshot 1" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>While similar games have placed focus on the fluid movement of the main character, maintaining precise jump distances and slick animations to create a physical weight to the protagonist, The Way has attempted to find a middle ground, allowing for a freer placement of the platforms and ledges but sacrificing the life-like feel to traversing. Walking and running animations look stunning but jumping across platforms often feels floaty and without precision, with dropping down to platforms on lower levels being troublesome, with animations that do not keep in line with the high quality seen during the rest of the title. </br></br>The difficulty of the puzzles found in game increase dramatically as the story progresses. Initially fairly rudimentary, the game eventually starts to hide clues to solving these puzzles around each level, requiring you to take knowledge found at one point and employed in a puzzle elsewhere. Eventually, the game abandons all help and for a large portion of the game simply lets you guess what you should be doing. Those with a puzzle-solving mind may immediately understand the tasks required of them through those that do not will find these sections more a case of trial and error, switching switches and turning dials until something eventful happens. </br></br>Initially, you start your adventure with nothing, being forced to hide and employ stealth, monitor enemy patrols and crawl around through ventilation shafts, though as the game progresses you will be granted with a host of abilities that will all play part in the way you navigate each level and solve puzzles. From telepathy to teleportation, sharpshooting to being granted the ability to deflect lasers and oncoming fire, while it’s not always clear which skill should be used at any one time the game doesn’t have a problem with you experimenting. </div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I0a3TbbPJHc/WtozFZAqUoI/AAAAAAAADJw/ztAoPmBKeAk6WHZPYrVCgmfdlpz20iitwCKgBGAs/s1600/TheWay2.jpg" alt="The Way Screenshot 2" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>Unlike in the titles it takes inspiration from, The Way doesn’t like to punish you for making mistakes, instead it make sure performs an autosave before almost every single opportunity in which you could harm your character, quickly respawning you if you fall foul of one of the games many traps. This both decrease frustration and keeps the flow of the title moving along nicely. </br></br>Remains largely the same as its initial 2016 release, the Switch version has received a few quality of life and console exclusive additions that have earned this edition the moniker of Remastered. HD rumble has been added to the general interaction, replicated gunshots and heartbeat during tense sections. A full voice track has now been included in the game and the games amazing synth styled music score is available on a jukebox, accessible from the games main menu. Graphical enhancements have been made and certain level design layouts have also been changed based on player feedback, though with no point of reference this will be difficult to for anyone with no experience of the original to be able to draw a comparison. </br></br>The titles length clocks in at a respectable 6-7 hours, though times may vary depending on your puzzle solving skill or ability to prevent dropping our protagonist to his death during the games many platforming sections. While the stories main narrative is engaging, it is occasionally separated between long levels consisting of multiple parts. While it does attempt to alleviate this issue with collectible notes and the inclusion of seven cut-scene style memory fragments scattered throughout the game to flesh out the story, sadly the levels feel slightly too long and you will find yourself occasionally attempting to breeze through later parts in an attempt to push the story forward some more. </div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rIJnGL4n3VA/WtozRtWFg0I/AAAAAAAADJ0/3bbKdA_zRJgIxEJcPyuixztQq654jGVzgCKgBGAs/s1600/Theway3.jpg" alt="Masters of Anima Screenshot 3" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>The Way is an absolutely fantastic adventure through space and an almost perfect reminder of some of gaming greatest platforming adventure titles. While sadly not fine tuning one of the key elements that made similar titles of yesteryear so popular, namely the main characters animations and physics; the game’s spot on sci-fi musical score and art style are an absolute delight to behold and complement the . If you’re a fan of the genre, enjoy solving puzzles that contain little to no handholding and really fancy a bit of nostalgia then put this high on your list of titles to buy soon. </br></br></br></div> </div> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; clear:both; margin-bottom:50px;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; text-align:center; font-size:28px;"><b>FOR THE WIN OR FOR THE BIN?</b></br></br></div></br></br> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left: 30px; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b> &#43; Beautiful pixel-art background and character animations. </br> &#43; Long storyline spanning several unique planets. </br>&#43; Enaging mechanics keep the puzzles fresh. </br>&#43; Immersive HD Rumble. </br> </br> &#45; Platforming does not feel as tight as the rest of the game. </br> &#45; Some puzzles may be to difficult for some. </b></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left:50px; font-size:22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br><b>Verdict: Almost There - Highly Recommended</b> </div><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:20px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8YFgURgBUmY/WlcM0tHydTI/AAAAAAAABmA/REYQwA0C5nYxhrhQe9jo97deigQG44TpQCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarHalf.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-right:0px"/></br></br></br></div> Curtis Chapmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-972897531756508556.post-87214743592710092562018-04-18T17:10:00.000+01:002018-04-18T23:48:51.189+01:00Review: Deep Ones<div class="showpic"></br><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LJRYF11iGRY/WtdnY_NIV-I/AAAAAAAADIM/pNIgVc3JhOc5zv6eAqnuf3qAA1c5lUfowCKgBGAs/s320/DeepOnes.png" alt="Review: Deep Ones" /></div><h3> Resting our head on the sea bed, In an octopus' garden near a cave </h3><br/><br/><a name='more'></a><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><div> <img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xx7pN9DqIwo/WkqThS0JxUI/AAAAAAAABSQ/75zNp0S0Ah0IYj37nsPXvW3Z0_oY6yS8QCKgBGAs/s1600/postConvo.png" alt="Join the Conversation!" usemap="#socialMap"/><map name="socialMap"> <area shape="circle" coords="198,97,26" href="https://www.facebook.com/NintendoPlayUK/posts/1863749300589527" target="_blank" alt="React on Facebook"> <area shape="circle" coords="253,97,26" href="https://twitter.com/NPlayUK/status/986640177308295170" target="_blank" alt="React on Twitter"></map> </div></br></br></br></br> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; width:700px; padding-left:20px; margin-bottom:50px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:20px;"><b> Deep Ones </br></b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:14px;"><b> BURP! Games | Nintendo Switch | Digital Only </br> 1 Player </br> </b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:12px;"> <b>Reviewed by: Curtis Chapman | 18th April 2018 </b></br></br><b>* Review Code Provided by: Sometimes You * </b> </br></br> </br> </div></br></br></br><div style="clear:both;"></div></div> <div style="clear:both; margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br><b><em> Laying on the nostalgia thicker than usual and taking retro styling all the way back to the 80’s, Deep Ones is available now on the eShop, priced at £4.49, BURP! Games attempts to create a nautical platformer that’ll remind you about that massive catalog of cassette tape classics you played as a kid. They were classics... weren’t they?? </b></em> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br>A 2D platformer with retro styling, the story of Deep Ones is a simple one; you play as an unknown diver exploring the ocean in a shiny submarine. While on your travels through the big blue you encounter a giant red octopus that proceeds to drag your sub back to its underwater cavern. After bailing during its descent, you touch down on the sea floor on foot and set out on your quest to retrieve your submergible from the lair of the multi-tentacled beast. </br></br>Tasking you with traversing, slowly, from the beginning of each level, the game has you jumping over obstacles, hopping ravines and avoiding enemies until you reach the end of each section. With no defined levels, the occasional boss battle separates the content, with different backgrounds and the occasional new enemy highlighting the differences between sections. Fairly early in the game you also receive a harpoon gun, allowing you to actually confront and dispatch the enemies that look to prevent your progress. This weapon actually decreases the overall difficulty of the title, as most, if not all enemies can simply be removed from the playing field permanently with little to no effort. </div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iLh3nUkOHvM/WtdpOdzM86I/AAAAAAAADIo/YWF0EXfZOTk9hcwiSN6nw2t6PpJIVnh9gCKgBGAs/s1600/deepones1.jpg" alt = "Deep Ones Screenshot 1" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>Unlike games of the past, the game does not feature any form of perma-death, with you diver seemingly having an infinite amount of lives, each with 3 health bubbles. On your travels, you encounter checkpoints at a fairly regular occurrence meaning that dropping down a hole or bumping into a patrolling starfish will not push your progress back too far. </br></br>The general platforming performs as it should and the overall theme of underwater playing well to the floaty, almost weightless feeling of the jumping physics. Further emulating titles of era’s past an Intentional delay to the button presses has been implemented, requiring you to put planning into when you are looking to jump or when you will fire your harpoon gun as the 1-2 second delay can be the difference between life and death. This works well and adds a challenge to the basic premise of simply having to navigate platforms and shoot enemies </br></br>With a limited graphical pallet and sprites consisting primarily of outlines and draped in neon hues, a lot of effort has gone into attempting to emulate the look and feel of titles from the 80’s. Unfortunately too many compromises to bring the titles into the 21st century such has resulted in the title looking more like an early MS-DOS game. Lighting effects and sprite/screen scaling suck away that nostalgic feeling and when completely zoomed out leave your player simply looking like it was drawn in MS-Paint. </br></br>The modern electro music score does little to keep with the tone of the action taking place on screen, this is made worse when coupled with the beeps and trills of the ZX Spectrum inspired low-tech sound effects, with the two clashing rather jarringly. Committing to one of these styles would have benefitted the titles cohesion immensely. </div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kFRl7e7ay5k/WtdpemWyFpI/AAAAAAAADIs/Mhskl_zNaRsfr8n9P2xb_xROh9YUQZFBQCKgBGAs/s1600/deepones2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="281" /></a> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kFRl7e7ay5k/WtdpemWyFpI/AAAAAAAADIs/Mhskl_zNaRsfr8n9P2xb_xROh9YUQZFBQCKgBGAs/s1600/deepones2.jpg" alt="Deep Ones Screenshot 2" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>If you are of a certain age Deep Ones will be an enjoyable, nostalgic jaunt through pastures familiar, where this type of obtusely themed platformer was a dime a dozen and many hours were spent working against the fiddly controls and unusual design decisions to make it to the end, before popping back down WHSmiths for another cassette of something almost identical. For the younger generation however, or those that do not hold the original golden age of gaming in such high regard, Deep Ones will most probably infuriate and feel like a painful slog to play through in its entirety. </br></br></br></div> </div> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; clear:both; margin-bottom:50px;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; text-align:center; font-size:28px;"><b>FOR THE WIN OR FOR THE BIN?</b></br></br></div></br></br> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left: 30px; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b> &#43; A unique theme. </br> &#43; Low priced. </br> </br> &#45; No real story. </br> &#45; Ill fitting music/effects. </br> &#45; Input lag may bother some. </br> &#45; Repetative gameplay. </b></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left:50px; font-size:22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br><b>Verdict: Verdict: Very Good Job – Recommended Buy</b> </div><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:20px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8YFgURgBUmY/WlcM0tHydTI/AAAAAAAABmA/REYQwA0C5nYxhrhQe9jo97deigQG44TpQCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarHalf.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-right:0px"/><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fc_pL2NK9DY/WlUjZUFf-kI/AAAAAAAABgk/BNKLCbO-EcoM-rl_ds-2ofbXDaCDPr2wACKgBGAs/s1600/ReviewStarNO.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-right:0px"/><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fc_pL2NK9DY/WlUjZUFf-kI/AAAAAAAABgk/BNKLCbO-EcoM-rl_ds-2ofbXDaCDPr2wACKgBGAs/s1600/ReviewStarNO.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-right:0px"/></br></br></br></div> Curtis Chapmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-972897531756508556.post-69359159458046981172018-04-17T09:16:00.000+01:002018-04-17T12:01:21.686+01:00Review: It's Spring Again <div class="showpic"></br><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c_26gXOMDfg/WtWgnhBm92I/AAAAAAAADGs/_J1iwxpDvSwrSuVx-5tmqUcvkZ7sTegrgCKgBGAs/s1600/SpringAgain.png" alt="Review: It's Spring Again" /></div><h3> It might be time to child-proof your Nintendo Switch. </h3><br/><br/><a name='more'></a><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><div> <img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xx7pN9DqIwo/WkqThS0JxUI/AAAAAAAABSQ/75zNp0S0Ah0IYj37nsPXvW3Z0_oY6yS8QCKgBGAs/s1600/postConvo.png" alt="Join the Conversation!" usemap="#socialMap"/><map name="socialMap"> <area shape="circle" coords="198,97,26" href="https://www.facebook.com/NintendoPlayUK/posts/1863269673970823" target="_blank" alt="React on Facebook"> <area shape="circle" coords="253,97,26" href="https://twitter.com/NPlayUK/status/986194472198275072" target="_blank" alt="React on Twitter"></map> </div></br></br></br></br> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; width:700px; padding-left:20px; margin-bottom:50px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:20px;"><b> It's Spring Again </br></b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:14px;"><b> Baba Yaga Games | Nintendo Switch | Digital Only </br> 1 Player </br> </b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:12px;"> <b>Reviewed by: Curtis Chapman | 17th April 2018 </b></br></br><b>* Review Code Provided by: Sometimes You * </b> </br></br> </br> </div></br></br></br><div style="clear:both;"></div></div> <div style="clear:both; margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br><b><em> If the dreary weather we've had recently hasn’t given you any indication of what season we're currently in then this game's title certainly will, It’s Spring Again attempts to educate the younger folk on what to expect from the weather throughout the year. Out today on the Switch and priced at a ridiculous £1.79, are you willing to let your little one get their hands on your console in the name of education? </b></em> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br>The media has told us time and time again not to plonk your child in front of a screen, to limit their screen time and never let them play video games (unless you want to one day be harbouring a serial killer) but with the rise in technology and its ability to engage the user better than anything else that has come before it, coupled with the worlds growing dependence on technology as a whole, there is an argument to say that having your child avoid TV, computers, tablets, and phones outright would put your child at a disadvantage in the future by missing out on the early years development, the hands on experience with tech and all of the educational opportunities that they offer. </br></br>It’s Spring Again is a short interactive title available on smartphones, PC, and handheld consoles and aimed firmly at children aged from 2 to 5. Utilising bright colorful animations and a full voice acted script to the game explains the visual and geographic changes that take place during the seasonal changes that happen throughout the year. </div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jBfu4BTSegU/WtWnZrxHbYI/AAAAAAAADHc/9Op2V9juvPQKTOkglj6J8GwaIU-b2ObfgCKgBGAs/s1600/spring1.jpg" alt = "Spring Again Screenshot 1" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>More a co-operative title (for the lowest age recommendation) than something to let your child tackle alone, It’s Spring Again offers parents the opportunity to contribute to the experience. The title has less than 10 minutes of actual content, looping around once it has finished, and much like reading a storybook requires those guiding the young player to actively participate in the process, asking questions and giving hints on the areas of interaction they should be focussing on for them to really achieve a full experience. </br></br>Children have a short attention span and the title is just the right length and provides the right amount of content to cover the subject matter. You will find that children will either want to loop through the content several times, requiring less parental input each time or will simply return to the title often, drawn to the color images and soothing voiceover. This pays praise to Baba Yaga Games' ability to understand their target audience and produce a title that caters to their strengths and understanding. </br></br>While the game does require the touchscreen to function, the game can also be set onto auto-play, allowing children who are unable to grasp the concept of the touchscreen controls or for those parents who would rather their child watch the experience instead to simpl watch the content unfold infront of them automatically. </br></br>One of the biggest issues with the games four interactive screens are the relatively small interactive areas in which the child is supposed to individually select. These areas can often be spaced close together, with some occasionally overlapping and during testing occasionally nearly impossible to select. With no instruction on what the player is actually supposed to do and no ability to progress without selecting all the interactive areas, this has the ability to both confuse and frustrate both parent and child. </div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jx_SyADNYVw/WtWnkFLoOTI/AAAAAAAADHg/lm3KumNVqoEjPRFTkhj7J7Rp6Nfwp071ACKgBGAs/s1600/spring2.jpg" alt="Spring Again Screenshot 2" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br> With high production quality and a price to reflect the extremely short length of this title, it’s a solid purchase for any parent wanting to explain seasons to their children. With a few of the bugs worked out and more content covering a wider range of material, this series could be a good starting point in convincing parents that the Nintendo Switch isn’t simply a machine to play games with and that it could also function as an effective teaching tool, with the potential to help grown young minds. </br></br></br></div> </div> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; clear:both; margin-bottom:50px;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; text-align:center; font-size:28px;"><b>FOR THE WIN OR FOR THE BIN?</b></br></br></div></br></br> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left: 30px; font-size:15px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b> &#43; First Educational title for Nintendo Switch. </br> &#43; Colour art and a soothing voiceover. </br>&#43; Autoplay mode for those who cannot use touchscreen </br> </br> &#45; Awkward touch areas that do not always register. </br> &#45; Lacking in content. </br> &#45; No real support for Docked Mode. </b></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left:50px; font-size:22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br><b>Verdict: Above Average – Worth a Try</b> </div><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:20px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-right:0px"/><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8YFgURgBUmY/WlcM0tHydTI/AAAAAAAABmA/REYQwA0C5nYxhrhQe9jo97deigQG44TpQCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarHalf.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-right:0px"/><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fc_pL2NK9DY/WlUjZUFf-kI/AAAAAAAABgk/BNKLCbO-EcoM-rl_ds-2ofbXDaCDPr2wACKgBGAs/s1600/ReviewStarNO.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-right:0px"/></br></br></br></div>Curtis Chapmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-972897531756508556.post-88539417768412683472018-04-16T22:00:00.000+01:002018-04-24T22:12:42.106+01:00Sega Ages Incoming for Nintendo Switch<div class="showpic"></br><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yR0VYtSn_W4/Wt-X9atLLiI/AAAAAAAADL0/mmzvwYEEHqIEbFpjB3_6YynevbJdD19bACKgBGAs/s1600/Sega.png" /></div><h3>One more nail in the coffin of Nintendo's Virtual Console. </h3><br/><br/><a name='more'></a><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"></br><div><img src="https://tinyurl.com/ycsanhfu" alt="Join the Conversation!" usemap="#socialMap"/><map name="socialMap"> <area shape="circle" coords="198,97,26" href="https://www.facebook.com/NintendoPlayUK" target="_blank" alt="React on Facebook"> <area shape="circle" coords="253,97,26" href="https://twitter.com/NPlayUK" target="_blank" alt="React on Twitter"></map> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 90%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br><div style="text-align:center; margin-left:40px; width:20%; height:auto; float:right"></br><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3hPVoIHJejo/Wt-YP3SgywI/AAAAAAAADL4/8QCNsCAE3BYoBBfgv2fpKwf34MU-wJ_qgCKgBGAs/s1600/fes18.png" /></div><div style="float:left; width:70%"></br>Sega have announced at Japanese fan meetup FES 2018 that they will once again be partnering with M2 to continue their collection of Sega titles (originally produced for the 3DS) on the Nintendo Switch, under the label Sega Ages. </br></br>Sonic 1, Alex Kidd and Phantasy Star are among already confirmed to be included in the planned 15 title scheduled for release, though it has be stated that should the initial 15 prove successful then further titles would be a possibility, including even titles from the Sega Saturn and Dreamcast back catalogue. </br></br><b>What titles will you be looking forward to replaying on your Switch? Join the Conversation online and let us know! </b> </div><div style="clear:both;"></div></br></br></br></div> <div style="clear:both; margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 60%; margin-left:15%; font-size:16px; text-align:center;"><img height='80px' src='https://tinyurl.com/ydfkwfcs' width='80px'/></div></div>Curtis Chapmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-972897531756508556.post-33015235568720280352018-04-13T14:30:00.003+01:002018-04-13T14:54:02.287+01:00Review: Masters of Anima <div class="showpic"></br><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NBtowkoiN8o/WtCpRuzeYwI/AAAAAAAADE8/isVT9aOUTfEBhV1_YzgxMxZdQGCwaHY7QCKgBGAs/s320/MoA.png" alt="Review: Masters of Anmia" /></div><h3> Always trust your Anima instincts. </h3><br/><br/><a name='more'></a><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><div> <img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xx7pN9DqIwo/WkqThS0JxUI/AAAAAAAABSQ/75zNp0S0Ah0IYj37nsPXvW3Z0_oY6yS8QCKgBGAs/s1600/postConvo.png" alt="Join the Conversation!" usemap="#socialMap"/><map name="socialMap"> <area shape="circle" coords="198,97,26" href="https://www.facebook.com/NintendoPlayUK/posts/1861724577458666" target="_blank" alt="React on Facebook"> <area shape="circle" coords="253,97,26" href="https://twitter.com/NPlayUK/status/984789008659238912" target="_blank" alt="React on Twitter"></map> </div></br></br></br></br> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; width:700px; padding-left:20px; margin-bottom:50px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:20px;"><b> Masters of Anima </br></b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:14px;"><b> Passtech Games | Nintendo Switch | Digital Only </br> 1 Player </br> </b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:12px;"> <b>Reviewed by: Curtis Chapman | 12th April 2018 </b></br></br><b>* Review Code Provided by: Passtech Games / Bastion PR * </b> </br></br> </br> </div></br></br></br><div style="clear:both;"></div></div> <div style="clear:both; margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br><b><em> Control an army of your own creation to topple giant beasts and save the world from certain destruction in Passtech Games newest title, Masters of Anima. Out now on the Nintendo Switch eShop and priced at £15.99, Does this troop-management adventure do enough to be its own entity, or does it simply attempt to scratch that Pikmin itch? </b></em> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br>Once upon a time, a giant volcano called Mount Spark raged out against the land. From the depths of the volcano spewed Anima, giving life to giant Golems and causing havoc across a peaceful world. Taking pity on the human plight, a goddess arrived and showed a chosen few the ways of Anima, allowing them to harness it to mold guardians from the land, giving them the support they needed in the battle against the Golems. With that, the Shapers were born; Mount Spark was bound with a Heartshield and peace returned to the land. </br></br>Our story begins many years into the future and finds our protagonist Otto, a young and slightly inept shaper-in-training taking his final test to prove to his fiancée Ana, the Master Shaper, that he is worthy of her love. After completing his test, disaster strikes and Golems appear suddenly reappear brought back around by a rogue Shaper named Zahr, hell-bent on returning Mount Spark to its glory. After a fierce battle, Zahr renders Otto’s fiancé into several soul shards, shattering them across the land before disappearing. Recovering these shards becomes Otto’s main goal, with saving the world from Zahr and battling his army of Golems something to do if he finds the time afterward.</div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T2t5N5By5Sk/WtCt91_4j0I/AAAAAAAADFs/Yo22Hm2YqkcnxxagbyS719GR35JD_-h7gCKgBGAs/s1600/MoA1.jpg" alt = "Masters of Anima Screenshot 1" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br> From the game’s opening introduction and tutorial, the driving narrative behind Master of Anima initially feels like an original one, and while the general premise is unique it’s sad to say that once the game gets started and the story begins to unfold, underneath the surface is a tale that is all too familiar. Filled with the classic tropes you’ve come to expected in any “save the damsel, save the world” storylines (coincidently usually all voiced with the same sounding plain British voice actors), it may feel all too predictable to anyone with an active interest in the genre. </br></br>Gameplay revolves around the concept of summoning guardians by using collected Anima, found simply laying around on the floor or hidden within objects that need to be broken open. Once summoned, these guardians are then used either to solve a series of pushing/lifting puzzles or to engage in battles against the Golems. With five types of guardians to summon, each with their own distinct skills, strengths and weaknesses, battles become an enjoyable tactical game of troop placement and enemy distraction. </br></br>The battles themselves are spaced out nicely on each level and usually take place after exploration or puzzle set pieces. Opting for fewer enemies with large pools of health and heavy hitting attacks, each battle feels more like a boss fight than simply a normal encounter. Combat usually takes an extended period of time with focus required throughout, or else risk having to replay the entire battle when you are quickly defeated, though on the plus side the game saves you progress before each battle so there is the opportunity to repeat a fight quickly and learn from your mistakes. Each Golem also has a gradually decreasing rage counter that, when depleted, will cause it to unleash devastating attacks that you find it hard to recover from. The implementation is enjoyable, although it would have been nice to have some shorter battles with easier to kill enemies peppered in between these larger battles to keep things interesting. </div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HTmLI1VB9wM/WtCt1LElUxI/AAAAAAAADFo/VQqs5GZIwg8hVL3t_eJIrBDmkS1T3ymuACKgBGAs/s1600/MoA2.jpgg" alt="Masters of Anima Screenshot 2" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>Otto gains experience point through battling and solving puzzles. Earning enough experience point will level Otto up, allowing him to upgrade skills for himself or his different Guardian types. This works well, allowing you to tailor your army, their strengths, and weaknesses, toward your own play style. </br></br>The use of a constant low-poly art style throughout the entire game is very effective, with the flat colors and minimalistic styling proving very effective when portraying the almost marionette features and movements of the spawned guardians. With a fully voiced acted story and hand painted cut-scene visuals, a lot of effort has gone into the polish of this title. </br></br>Unfortunately, Passtech Games has decided not to play to the strengths of the Switch’s Handheld Mode, omitting the ability to use the consoles touch screen for selecting of positioning troops, instead opting only to support input from either the joy-con or a pro controller. The controls themselves are intuitive but with so many actions it may take some time remembering which button moves, dismisses your troops may take some getting used to. </div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N8vpZ5FsBPA/WtCthLjv4fI/AAAAAAAADFk/qjhg5UjB1n49g_0TUpijM9ZpxuFqaZwjgCKgBGAs/s1600/MoA3.jpg" alt="Masters of Anima Screenshot 3" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br> For a title sharing similarities to one of Nintendo’s longstanding franchises, Masters of Anima does enough to differentiate itself, while still containing enough similar gameplay elements to be of interest to fans of similar titles. Unfortunately, the game’s all too predictable story and decision to focus on a select amount of drawn-out battles mars what could have been an essential purchase a game that currently stands alone in its genre on the Nintendo Switch. That is not to say that the game isn’t enjoyable however and is definitely recommended if you enjoy troop-management/RTS titles.</br></br></br></div> </div> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; clear:both; margin-bottom:50px;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; text-align:center; font-size:28px;"><b>FOR THE WIN OR FOR THE BIN?</b></br></br></div></br></br> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left: 30px; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b> &#43; Interesting core game mechanics. </br> &#43; Lengthy main story. </br>&#43; Gorgeous & well animated characters scenery. </br>&#43; Full voice acting. </br> </br> &#45; Predictable storyline. </br> &#45; Battles are too drawn out. </br> &#45; No touch screen support. </b></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left:50px; font-size:22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br><b>Verdict: Very Good Job – Recommended Buy</b> </div><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:20px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fc_pL2NK9DY/WlUjZUFf-kI/AAAAAAAABgk/BNKLCbO-EcoM-rl_ds-2ofbXDaCDPr2wACKgBGAs/s1600/ReviewStarNO.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-right:0px"/></br></br></br></div> Curtis Chapmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-972897531756508556.post-59985336592752433532018-04-12T11:36:00.001+01:002018-04-12T14:01:26.827+01:00Review: The Adventure Pals<div class="showpic"></br><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tSEs6j7CvIs/Ws3xgRQ9pXI/AAAAAAAADD0/bTIQUwgIZBkEUe2Zlpu3_vBd4AnfkklQwCKgBGAs/s320/AdventurePals.png" alt="Review: The Adventure Pals" /></div><h3> Why so serious? Lets put a smile on that face. </h3><br/><br/><a name='more'></a><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><div> <img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xx7pN9DqIwo/WkqThS0JxUI/AAAAAAAABSQ/75zNp0S0Ah0IYj37nsPXvW3Z0_oY6yS8QCKgBGAs/s1600/postConvo.png" alt="Join the Conversation!" usemap="#socialMap"/><map name="socialMap"> <area shape="circle" coords="198,97,26" href="https://www.facebook.com/NintendoPlayUK/posts/1861308944166896" target="_blank" alt="React on Facebook"> <area shape="circle" coords="253,97,26" href="https://twitter.com/NPlayUK/status/984391700008374272" target="_blank" alt="React on Twitter"></map> </div></br></br></br></br> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; width:700px; padding-left:20px; margin-bottom:50px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:20px;"><b> The Adventure Pals</br></b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:14px;"><b> Massive Monster | Nintendo Switch | Digital Only </br> 1-2 Players (Local Only) </br> </b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:12px;"> <b>Reviewed by: Curtis Chapman | 11th April 2018 </b></br></br><b>* Review Code Provided by: Massive Monster * </b> </br></br> </br> </div></br></br></br><div style="clear:both;"></div></div> <div style="clear:both; margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br><b><em> While already receiving a launch in the US last week, The Adventure Pals finally arrives on EU shores today priced at £10.79. For those who have been waiting patiently from distant shores for a chance to play, it’s time to find out... was it worth the wait? </b></em> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br>Most if not all of us have aspects of our lives that we consider stressful, whether it’s in our work or in our personal lives, there’s always something that we need to take a break from occasionally. For many, gaming is that means of escape. A way to shrug off the day’s blues, whether by intensely saving the world from an invading alien force or by merely spending a few hours tending to your crops on a virtual farm, the medium has something for everyone. The Adventure Pals by Massive Monsters attempts to strike a lovely balance between the two extremes that dominate the market at the moment by giving you an intense madcap storyline to follow, all the while reminding you that it’s only a game and as such, should be accessible and filled with as much fun and light-heartedness as humanly possible. </br></br>Super Adventure Pals was previously a web-based flash affair launching in 2014, quickly gaining a following and spawning a sequel in the process. After a successful kick-starter campaign the series has been redesigned and repackaged into The Adventure Pals, a title that tells the story of a boy, his giraffe, Sparkles, and his pet rock, as they quest to stop the evil Mr B from turning his papa into a Hotdog. This quick synopsis should give you more than an inkling of the tone of the title. Boasting 105 stages, across 5 worlds, each with its own unique characters to meet with stories to be told, there are more than enough madcap shenanigans for you to become involved in throughout your journey. </div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v1y2RFnnLVs/Ws3-GY-kq3I/AAAAAAAADEE/XPjZ8buieekq_8JMvLsyh3zFm1PCA4PWQCKgBGAs/s1600/adventure1.jpg" alt = "The Adventure Pals Screenshot 1" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>A 2D platformer at its core with a peppering of light RPG elements throughout, each of the game's levels are split into 5 short stages that task you with traveling from point A to point B while dispatching any of the cute and colorful enemies that you meet along the way. As you progress, tougher enemies with more attack patterns appear, although the overall difficulty remains low throughout the entire game. Dispatching enemies will net you experience that, when you reach the next level, allow you to choose a passive skill that will help you on your journey. </br></br>While spending a lot of time in your backpack, Sparkles is a very versatile giraffe indeed. With the ability to hover with her tongue, act as a wrench to turn nuts with her and assist in combat by grabbing on to enemies, the game constantly finds ways to pile on the cute factor with at the same time implementing mechanics that are easily understood by all ages. </br></br>A jump-in/jump-out co-op mode has also been included allowing you to bring a friend or love one along for the ride. Although the co-op mode makes the game easier than it already is, it strikes a nice balance between being easy enough for inexperienced and younger players to get involved with while providing just enough of a challenge for experienced players so as to keep them interested so they do not feel they are simply going through the motions. </div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o9HGevuwU84/Ws3-XnwI_ZI/AAAAAAAADEI/E3_CLIvdCawOhAnp0SSuT5-Dl1gXhainQCKgBGAs/s1600/adventure3.jpg" alt="The Adventure Pals Screenshot 2" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>For an added challenge, The Adventure Pals features collectible Cupcakes as well as sticker packs that are easily locatable on each level they feature, most often than not being out in the open or just off the beaten path toward a stages exit. Eventually, the player is even given a compass showing their exact location, ensuring you don’t miss a single one. Cupcakes can be traded in for cosmetic items that take the form of new hats for yourself and outfits for your pet rock. While the games 105 stages will take a time to work through, it’s clear and welcome that Massive Monsters don’t feel it necessary to have you obsessively combing through each level or revisit each one multiple times just to get the full experience, something a lot of titles tend to do simply to bloat out their titles overall play time. </br></br>The game maintains a lot of its old-school Adobe Flash art styling that one would expect to see from a Newgrounds title circa 2000, though this has been brought up to date and feels refreshed. Graphics are crisp pop beautifully in both Handheld and Dock Mode, with lots of bright colors to compliment the upbeat and whimsical score, making the whole package look and feel like it wouldn’t be out of place in its own cartoon series. </div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kx1C51bV8L4/Ws3-h7N5R_I/AAAAAAAADEM/lD7xQuvVVfUNQRS4vxCbqVddmF2w6uzLQCKgBGAs/s1600/adventure2.jpg" alt="The Adventure Pals Screenshot 3" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br> The Adventure Pals is a joy to play, with an amazingly cute aesthetic, plot and a cast of supporting characters, the game does a fantastic job of relaxing the player while still supplying enough in the way of gameplay mechanics to keep the player both interested and invested in the game. Most importantly, Adventure Pals goes out its way to make you both smile and feel warm inside, something that is often overlooked when creating a means of emotional escapism that players of video games often seek from their experience.</br></br></br></div> </div> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; clear:both; margin-bottom:50px;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; text-align:center; font-size:28px;"><b>FOR THE WIN OR FOR THE BIN?</b></br></br></div></br></br> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left: 30px; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b> &#43; Wonderful smile-indcuing story. </br> &#43; Humourous cast of NPC. </br>&#43; A lot of content. </br>&#43; Vibrant art and music. </br> </br> &#45; Veterans may find the difficulty too low. </b></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left:50px; font-size:22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br><b>Verdict: For the Win – Essential Purchase</b> </div><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:20px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /></br></br></br></div> Curtis Chapmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-972897531756508556.post-29937966658124578682018-04-10T14:04:00.000+01:002018-04-12T02:20:26.208+01:00Review: Super Daryl Deluxe<div class="showpic"></br><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WzJo5RLpsbU/WsvQvzjg_gI/AAAAAAAADDA/ziu-wJAftWYpWiY4q-akTPjMOScvw9SNgCKgBGAs/s320/SuperDaryl.png" alt="Review: Super Daryl Deluxe" /></div><h3>Do you even have any skills? You know, like nunchuck skills, bow-hunting skills... </h3><br/><br/><a name='more'></a><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><div> <img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xx7pN9DqIwo/WkqThS0JxUI/AAAAAAAABSQ/75zNp0S0Ah0IYj37nsPXvW3Z0_oY6yS8QCKgBGAs/s1600/postConvo.png" alt="Join the Conversation!" usemap="#socialMap"/><map name="socialMap"> <area shape="circle" coords="198,97,26" href="https://www.facebook.com/NintendoPlayUK/posts/1860519290912528" target="_blank" alt="React on Facebook"> <area shape="circle" coords="253,97,26" href="https://twitter.com/NPlayUK/status/983720725319217152" target="_blank" alt="React on Twitter"></map> </div></br></br></br></br> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; width:700px; padding-left:20px; margin-bottom:50px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:20px;"><b> Super Daryl Deluxe</br></b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:14px;"><b> Dan and Gary Games | Nintendo Switch | Digital Only </br> 1 Player </br> </b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:12px;"> <b>Reviewed by: Curtis Chapman | 10th April 2018 </b></br></br><b> Developers Commentary by: Dan Plate & Gary Porter - Dan and Gary Games</b> </br></br><b>* Review Code Provided by: Dan and Gary Games / Stride PR * </b> </br></br> </br> </div></br></br></br><div style="clear:both;"></div></div> <div style="margin: 0px 85px 13.33px; width: 60%; float:left; text-align:center; font-size:14px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b><em>Nintendo Play is joined by Dan Plate and Gary Porter , Co-Founders of Dan and Gary Games, for the included Developers Commentary. </b></em></div> <div style="clear:both; margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br><b><em>A strange kid, a robotic vice-principal, a princess and a surreal obsession with text books are just a few of the eccentricities to greet you in the new 2D Action RPG Super Daryl Deluxe from Dan and Gary Games. Launching today on Nintendo Switch for the tidy price of £17.99, what are you going to do today? Whatever you feel like, gosh! </b></em> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br>School is an awkward period for everyone; it doesn’t matter if you’re a Nerd, a Jock a Goth or a Cheerleader, they are clearly inherently designed to intimidate. The cliques, the oddball teachers, the long hallways of nothingness and the threats of a trip to the principal are only to name a few of the horrors that young minds face on a daily basis. All in all High School is the perfect setting for an intense Action-RPG. </br></br>Daryl is our adolescent teen protagonist with the charismatic appeal as a mute Napoleon Dynamite, sporting a headband and bellbottom trousers he is the epitome of uncool. He transfers to Water Falls High School where it is quickly apparent something strange is afoot, the majority of classes are either suspended or canceled and with the bulk of the course curriculum consisting of study breaks. Anarchy rains and knowledge is power, with textbooks becoming the most sought-after commodity to those still interested in an education. After inadvertently becoming a lackey for Paul and Alan, two bully entrepreneurs trying to compete for a market share in the textbook game against the infamous trench coat gang, you’re sent out on various errands and encounter strange foes and even stranger friends on your travels; but with the craziness of everything that is going on, it becomes increasingly difficult to separate Daryl’s fantasy from the insane reality that is Water Falls High School. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="position:inline; float:left; height:80px; width:10%;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nyickyw8YHw/WmTDMAB9k2I/AAAAAAAAB4U/PpBkhckNqP8n3AEOXMFqqB2nZVrGcaiHgCKgBGAs/s1600/dev%2Bsmall.png" alt="Developers Commentary" align="right" height ="60" /></div><div style="position:inline; float:left; width:63%; margin-left:10px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b><em> Dan: From day one, Gary and I set out to just make some stupid game about our experiences from high school, but as development progressed things became less about our inside jokes and more bizarre. This is the first time either of us has worked on a really long story like this, and our method of writing - which basically amounts to us just trying make each other laugh (perhaps with the help of a drink or two) - took us to some really peculiar places. </b></em></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kQpoMX9d6YE/WsvjyHAPX-I/AAAAAAAADDQ/f7QY1DYaYkQNVNZIY6fp5Y9JO3HvfikWgCKgBGAs/s1600/daryl1.jpg" alt = "Super Daryl Deluxe Screenshot 1" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>Super Daryl Deluxe is a single-player 2D side-scrolling Action RPG. While this genre isn’t chock full of similar titles on the Switch its gameplay could loosely be compared to NES classic Legend of Zelda 2 or online PC titles Maple Story/Wonder King Online. Containing all the staples of a good action RPG; a strong main narrative based quest line, numerous sub-quests, upgradable active/passive skills to employ and a wide assortment of weapons and armour to collect, there’s certainly a lot of play time packed in to this title to cater to those willing to tackle more than merely the game’s main story. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="position:inline; float:left; height:80px; width:10%;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nyickyw8YHw/WmTDMAB9k2I/AAAAAAAAB4U/PpBkhckNqP8n3AEOXMFqqB2nZVrGcaiHgCKgBGAs/s1600/dev%2Bsmall.png" alt="Developers Commentary" align="right" height ="60" /></div><div style="position:inline; float:left; width:63%; margin-left:10px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b><em> Gary: It’s interesting you point out Maple Story because I took a lot of inspiration from 2D MMOs that I played while growing up. A major one for me was a relatively unheard of game called Ghost Online. My time spent playing those games shaped Daryl’s combat style drastically, and I even modeled a skill or two after some of my favorites from my MMO days. </br></br>The World Ends With You was also a major inspiration with their pin system. SDD’s combat system is very similar, with a large pool of abilities that you can swap out, upgrade, and experiment with. I think it suits the world well and keeps a long RPG from becoming repetitive or boring, as you can constantly change the way you play the game.</b></em></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>Bizarre and offbeat are a central theme and run through absolutely every element of this title. As you battle through an ancient pyramid on the request of Julius Caesar, equipped with a pair of cactus hands and wearing the body of a sentient xylophone as armor, this should quickly become apparent. </br></br>Falling prey to a design choice made in many online RPG’s, Super Daryl Deluxe sometimes features repetitive sub-quests that task the player with “fetching” specific items that occasionally drop from defeated enemies. These fetch quests are commonplace in similar titles and often feel like padding, designed to stretch out the amount of content in a title. While this form of questing can become stale in other titles, the general wackiness of the requests and the fact they are completely optional and do not gate progress through the game’s main story softens the blow somewhat. </BR></BR></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="position:inline; float:left; height:80px; width:10%;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nyickyw8YHw/WmTDMAB9k2I/AAAAAAAAB4U/PpBkhckNqP8n3AEOXMFqqB2nZVrGcaiHgCKgBGAs/s1600/dev%2Bsmall.png" alt="Developers Commentary" align="right" height ="60" /></div><div style="position:inline; float:left; width:63%; margin-left:10px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b><em> Gary: From the beginning, SDD has been primarily about making people laugh. I knew that having fetch quests would be a turn off for some people (which is why the majority of them are optional), but we used it as a catalyst for storytelling and character building. With the sheer amount of characters in the game it’s hard to give them all proper backgrounds and dialogue, especially when you have a completely silent protagonist, so we injected personality into many characters by making them request stupid items from Daryl almost constantly. </br></br>It allowed us to write truly bizarre situations into the game without having to directly tie them into the game’s main story, which I think (hope?) works well in this really insane world we created. </br></br>It also plays up the trope of Daryl being the “perfect” RPG character - he simply stares and breathes at people until they ask him to do something and he does it without question. Even if it’s something as dumb as collecting broken glass for a student to eat.</b></em></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i8Bz2LZV_Yw/WsvkQxZz5gI/AAAAAAAADDY/2-yVVbHJ9nMjy7rr3-UPnU7Nr0GHb6TiQCKgBGAs/s1600/daryl2.jpg" alt="Super Daryl Deluxe Screenshot 2" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>As your character advances in level, base stats such as health and strength increases as well. The game’s difficulty is balanced nicely, with your character's prowess in battle mirroring well that of the enemies you are tasked with defeating on your progress through the game’s main story. If you do find yourself struggling, however, it is completely possible to return to any area you are comfortable with and repeatedly kill enemies until you feel strong enough to proceed, a process known to many interested in the genre as “grinding”. </br></br>As well as equipping new weapons and armor, finding textbooks on your travels allows you to purchase new attack skills or use them to upgrade your already acquired skills, altering how they perform in battle. With five skills available at any one time, each one mapped to one of your controller buttons, finding the best mix of skills for your personal play style and the types of enemies you are currently battling is imperative to success. </br></br>On your initial play, you are greeted with a short introduction level, a pre-tutorial in the form of a flash forward as it were. Like that scene in a movie that gives you a glimpse of what’s to come and features our main protagonist in a godlike state, swatting away swathes of enemies with his many maxed out skills and a seemingly unlimited health bar. While the difficulty has been toned down to a point where it is almost impossible to lose, the players initial lack of appreciation toward to nuances of a combat system that many will be unfamiliar with, coupled with the expectation to understand and utilise all of the skills they are presented with causes the player to fumble through, potentially turning the player off to the initially bizarre combat, or at the very least, wrongly giving a bad first impression of a fantastic title. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="position:inline; float:left; height:80px; width:10%;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nyickyw8YHw/WmTDMAB9k2I/AAAAAAAAB4U/PpBkhckNqP8n3AEOXMFqqB2nZVrGcaiHgCKgBGAs/s1600/dev%2Bsmall.png" alt="Developers Commentary" align="right" height ="60" /></div><div style="position:inline; float:left; width:63%; margin-left:10px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b><em> Dan: You know, I think it’s a fair first impression. A problem we struggled with through development was how to give the player a sense of what’s to come later on in the game as far as combat goes. Like the obvious thing for us to do early on was give the player nothing but Daryl in the beginning - no skills, nothing - and just let the player start from there. And we tried that, but the problem was that seemed to bore people because the good stuff took too long to get to. </br></br>So we went back to the drawing board and redesigned how the game begins - put Daryl in a strange daydream, give the player some skills to try out, and throw them right into some action. Player receptions for the beginning improved drastically after that. </b></em></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>The game’s art style fluctuates with the trippy nature of the game's theme, with the predominantly cartoon-like visuals and smooth character animations sitting next to faux-3d elements and photo-realistic images that occasionally make levels look as creative as some of the images found in Terry Gilliam’s artwork for Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Coupled with the excellently produced and equally bizarre musical score, the whole package comes together nicely, made easier by the fact the games randomness makes unifying a theme (or not, as the case may be) a whole lot more forgiving. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="position:inline; float:left; height:80px; width:10%;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nyickyw8YHw/WmTDMAB9k2I/AAAAAAAAB4U/PpBkhckNqP8n3AEOXMFqqB2nZVrGcaiHgCKgBGAs/s1600/dev%2Bsmall.png" alt="Developers Commentary" align="right" height ="60" /></div><div style="position:inline; float:left; width:63%; margin-left:10px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b><em> Dan: On behalf of me, Miles (the sound designer), and Adriel (our composer), thanks! Keeping things fresh throughout the game was a huge challenge, especially with hundreds of backgrounds. Luckily for us, the game’s credo is basically “the more bizarre, the better,” so I could work with whatever crazy idea I had on any given day. This allowed me to pursue all sorts of styles, often times resulting in a map looking like something out of a Terry Gilliam movie. I was raised on The Far Side, Dilbert, Calvin & Hobbes, Robotman, you know - the daily comics, so those influences are all over the place in SDD. </b></em></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AmoZFsVKemE/Wsvj-RkrKVI/AAAAAAAADDU/7_Kru_vnqyUQ-VpYpAsM4Zur7J5L6Dd-wCKgBGAs/s1600/daryl3.jpg" alt="Super Daryl Deluxe Screenshot 3" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br> It is fair to say that Super Daryl Deluxe stands as a giant in a genre that is severely underrepresented on the Nintendo Switch. With a cool art style, wacky story and tons of content it is an essential purchase for lovers of action RPG’s. Daryl may not be the coolest guy at Water Fall High School, but his game is certainly one of the coolest Action-RPG entries currently available on Nintendo’s newest hybrid Console. </br></br></br></div> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:14px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b><em>Many thanks to Dan & Gary for their discussion during this review. </b></em></br></br></br></br></div> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; clear:both; margin-bottom:50px;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; text-align:center; font-size:28px;"><b>FOR THE WIN OR FOR THE BIN?</b></br></br></div></br></br> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left: 30px; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b> &#43; Wacky and completely original story </br> &#43; Solid overall Action-RPG mechanics. </br>&#43; Loads of content. </br>&#43; Gorgeous Art/Sound direction. </br> </br> &#45; Introduction to the combat can be daunting. </br> &#45; Features the occasional "fetch quest". </b></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left:50px; font-size:22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br><b>Verdict: For the Win – Essential Purchase</b> </div><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:20px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /></br></br></br></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b><em> For gameplay footage of Super Daryl Deluxe, see our see our 10 minute Dive In: <a href="http://www.nintendoplay.co.uk/2018/04/dive-in-super-daryl-deluxe.html" target="_blank"> HERE </a> </em></b></div>Curtis Chapmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-972897531756508556.post-30469797890639960472018-04-09T21:50:00.001+01:002018-04-12T02:19:45.426+01:00Dive In: Super Daryl Deluxe <div class="showpic"></br><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WzJo5RLpsbU/WsvQvzjg_gI/AAAAAAAADDA/ziu-wJAftWYpWiY4q-akTPjMOScvw9SNgCKgBGAs/s320/SuperDaryl.png" alt="Dive In: Super Daryl Deluxe" /></div><h3>10 Minutes in the life and mind of Daryl might just change you forever. </h3><br/><br/><a name='more'></a><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><div><img src="https://tinyurl.com/ycsanhfu" alt="Join the Conversation!" usemap="#socialMap"/><map name="socialMap"> <area shape="circle" coords="198,97,26" href="https://www.facebook.com/NintendoPlayUK/posts/1860236904274100" target="_blank" alt="React on Facebook"> <area shape="circle" coords="253,97,26" href="https://twitter.com/NPlayUK/status/983460868850675714" target="_blank" alt="React on Twitter"></map> </div></br><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 90%; float:left; font-size:16px;"></br></br>Today we're Diving In to 10 minute of Super Daryl Deluxe from Dan and Gary Games, releasing on the 10th April for Nintendo Switch. A strange kid, a robotic vice-principal, a princess and a surreal obsession with textbooks are just a few of the eccentricities to greet you in the new 2D Action-RPG, that looks on being a runaway success and definitely one not to miss for fans of the genre. </br></br>All our videos can be found on our <a href ="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3ZOsC9norDqecjeXRkI9FQ" target="_blank"> YouTube Channel </a>. </br></br><b><em>A full review of Super Daryl Deluxe can be found <a href="http://www.nintendoplay.co.uk/2018/04/review-super-daryl-deluxe.html" target="_blank"> HERE </a></b></em> </br></br></br></div></br></br> <div style="text-align:center; width:90%" ></br></br><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hUc8fMgvdoU?rel=0&amp;showinfo=0" frameborder="0"gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></div> <div style="clear:both; margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 60%; margin-left:15%; font-size:16px; text-align:center;"></br></br></br><img height='80px' src='https://tinyurl.com/ydfkwfcs' width='80px'/></div></div>Curtis Chapmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-972897531756508556.post-36181723581315602392018-04-09T12:28:00.000+01:002018-04-09T12:35:45.881+01:00Review: The Bunker<div class="showpic"></br><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4apsF9N0q3o/WsPUiPlAcTI/AAAAAAAAC94/qLgUhdRNW0wDEkmIlKgBuf7h-h5x0TBZwCKgBGAs/s1600/TheBunker.png" alt="Review:The Bunker" /></div><h3> After the bombs drop, Infected minds to their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets. </h3><br/><br/><a name='more'></a><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><div> <img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xx7pN9DqIwo/WkqThS0JxUI/AAAAAAAABSQ/75zNp0S0Ah0IYj37nsPXvW3Z0_oY6yS8QCKgBGAs/s1600/postConvo.png" alt="Join the Conversation!" usemap="#socialMap"/><map name="socialMap"> <area shape="circle" coords="198,97,26" href="https://www.facebook.com/NintendoPlayUK/posts/1860049844292806" target="_blank" alt="React on Facebook"> <area shape="circle" coords="253,97,26" href="https://twitter.com/NPlayUK/status/983305872876228608" target="_blank" alt="React on Twitter"></map> </div></br></br></br></br> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; width:700px; padding-left:20px; margin-bottom:50px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:20px;"><b> The Bunker </br></b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:14px;"><b> Splendy Games | Nintendo Switch | Digital Only </br> 1 Player </br> </b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:12px;"> <b>Reviewed by: Curtis Chapman | 9th April 2018 </b> </br></br> <b> Developers Commentary by: Allan Plenderleith - Splendy Games</b> </br></br><b> * Review Code Provided by: Wales Interactive * </b></br></br></br> </div></br></br></br><div style="clear:both;"></div></div> <div style="margin: 0px 85px 13.33px; width: 60%; float:left; text-align:center; font-size:14px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b><em>Nintendo Play is joined by Allan Plenderleith , Creative Director at Splendy Games, for the included Developers Commentary. </b></em></div> <div style="clear:both; margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br><b><em>A thriller comprised entirely of video footage and set within a fallout shelter in the heart of the English Countryside, for Nintendo Switch, Why not!? The Bunker by Splendy Games is releasing today on the Nintendo eShop for £9.99. Anyone over a certain age may be weary, but has this genre finally changed for the better?</b></em> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br>It’s been a long time since the industry dabbled in FMV games. Full Motion Video titles briefly became the buzz word in the early to mid 90’s and infamous titles such as Night Trap, Phantasmagoria and Gabriel Knight 2 are still discussed to this day... though sadly not usually for their quality. With gaming at the time beginning to shift towards larger capacity CD media and with most home Computers having a drive as standard, many felt that interactive movies were soon to be the way of the future, putting the player in control of the outcome their favorite films. Sadly due to highly-compressed low-quality video, hammy acting and sky-high production costs of the few titles that were actually made, the genre faded out almost as quickly as it appeared. Recently, however, gaming has seen a slow resurgence of the medium, looking to rectify some of the shortfalls of those that came before. The Bunker is Splendy Games’ rather ambitious attempt at pushing genre back into the spotlight. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="position:inline; float:left; height:80px; width:10%;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nyickyw8YHw/WmTDMAB9k2I/AAAAAAAAB4U/PpBkhckNqP8n3AEOXMFqqB2nZVrGcaiHgCKgBGAs/s1600/dev%2Bsmall.png" alt="Developers Commentary" align="right" height ="60" /></div><div style="position:inline; float:left; width:63%; margin-left:10px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b><em> Allan : My first game was an iOS title called The Hunting, a first person zombie horror shot on an iPhone, all live action. The term FMV never entered my head - I just wanted to see if doing interactive movie was possible. The Bunker is the next development of this idea with a bigger budget and hopefully much higher production values and top acting talent. We want people to feel like they’re going on a journey with John, to experience the loneliness and isolation, to feel that dread and despair when you’re alone and helpless. The emotional power of good acting is really why we like using live action - John goes through a heartbreaking emotional journey and we needed someone with amazing acting talent to pull it off. Adam Brown and Sarah Greene both did amazing jobs.</b></em></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hTH2BrpAc4k/WskUiysuqdI/AAAAAAAADBg/82m0NCpuegoF8k6EwYet4-x-OMWoawgzACKgBGAs/s1600/Bunker1.jpg" alt = "The Bunker Screenshot 1" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>The Bunker tells the story of John. Born and raised in a fallout shelter after a nuclear attack forced its occupants to seal it, planned to be kept closed for decades. Now a grown man and left with only his mother for company, John must maintain his sanity and come to terms with the reason why he is one of the last people left in the bunker. </br></br>While not feeling like a blockbuster movie in its plot and scale, The Bunker contains production values similar to that of a high-quality BBC Drama, which is to say, it looks and feels extremely well produced. The acting is emotive and believable and the music and sound effects are on point, creating the exact atmosphere that Splendy Games are clearly trying to convey. With an all-star line-up in its leading characters, most notably Adam Brown (Ori the Dwarf - The Hobbit Trilogy) and Sarah Greene (Hecate Poole – Penny Dreadful), no expense was spared in ensuring that the title did not fall prey to the lackluster acting stigma that plagued initial wave of FMV titles. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="position:inline; float:left; height:80px; width:10%;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nyickyw8YHw/WmTDMAB9k2I/AAAAAAAAB4U/PpBkhckNqP8n3AEOXMFqqB2nZVrGcaiHgCKgBGAs/s1600/dev%2Bsmall.png" alt="Developers Commentary" align="right" height ="60" /></div><div style="position:inline; float:left; width:63%; margin-left:10px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b><em> Allan: Hiring good actors is the most important thing in any film production. If they’re good they’ll bring things to the table you never imagined when writing the script. I spotted Adam Brown in the DVD extras of The Hobbit and thought he was perfect for John - vulnerable and sensitive - he’s a very talented physical actor which was essential as John does not have much dialogue. I was searching for an actor to play Margaret when I stumbled upon Sarah Greene who had previously been a voice actor on The Witcher 3. It was only when I met her that I found out she was a good friend of Adam’s!</b></em></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>Actual gameplay is kept to a minimum with some simple interactions and quick-time-events thrown in keep the attention focussed on the story being told. The bulk of the work for the player is the selection of which door to open or hallway to walk John down next, and in these instances the video footage is creatively looped to give the player all time they need to decide where to go next. </div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZqyGebeOHOE/WskUsdMYoxI/AAAAAAAADBk/fV3HsLYxAGMOlf8sZy8DW7S2bkL0uUPNQCKgBGAs/s1600/Bunker2.jpg" alt="The Bunker Screenshot 2" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>The game's story contains two different distinct endings though unfortunately very little can be done during the course of the game to prevent you from being able to select either as the games concluding scene. There is also no need to replay the entire game for the opportunity to view the alternate as there is nothing stopping you from reloading your previous save after your initial completion, taking you right back to the end of the game and allowing you to choose to finish with the secondary clip instead. The game does feature and range of collectables scattered throughout the story and is something for those eagled eyed completionists to track down, though with nothing in the form of a reward the whole process seems fairly pointless, with the constant thorough scanning of each scene detracting from the engaging storyline and taking away from whole experience somewhat. Understandably the length of the title is fairly short, around the 1.5 – 2 hour mark, but much like a movie the game is able to successfully tell the story, giving the characters involved a fleshed out story and contains a solid beginning, middle and end </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="position:inline; float:left; height:80px; width:10%;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nyickyw8YHw/WmTDMAB9k2I/AAAAAAAAB4U/PpBkhckNqP8n3AEOXMFqqB2nZVrGcaiHgCKgBGAs/s1600/dev%2Bsmall.png" alt="Developers Commentary" align="right" height ="60" /></div><div style="position:inline; float:left; width:63%; margin-left:10px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b><em> Allan: The Bunker is all about exploration and a story unfolding as opposed to choice based narrative. We were pushing the boundaries as to what has been achieved before in interactive film so had to keep interactivity and gameplay simple and clean (our next title is pushing things much further). I felt a choice was important at the very end because the character John is torn - part of him wants to leave the bunker but he is terrified of what is outside; the other part of him doesn’t feel he deserves to leave after he discovered the truth of what happened. Both choices are valid, it’s up to the player to decide, does John deserve freedom?</b></em></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>There is both touch-screen and controller support in the Bunker with the former having a distinct advantage over using a controller. The main issue lies with the game's crosshair; with no way to disable when playing with a controller, it sits on screen the entire time, getting in the way of the video playing behind it and generally spoiling the view. This crosshair also has uncomfortable sensitivity when selecting icons on or QTE’s on the screen, turning what should be an organic sequence of selections into a bit of a clunky mess. With crisp looking visuals and an overall much more enjoyable experience, playing in Handheld Mode is definitely recommended if possible. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="position:inline; float:left; height:80px; width:10%;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nyickyw8YHw/WmTDMAB9k2I/AAAAAAAAB4U/PpBkhckNqP8n3AEOXMFqqB2nZVrGcaiHgCKgBGAs/s1600/dev%2Bsmall.png" alt="Developers Commentary" align="right" height ="60" /></div><div style="position:inline; float:left; width:63%; margin-left:10px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b><em> Allan: We are hoping to improve some of the gameplay having heard the feedback from reviewers and gamers in the forthcoming weeks. </b></em></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jYgpF3D_MVE/WskU3EcLWRI/AAAAAAAADBo/3OrpDDRlXc8c0_uj7zQC7kgFhjoKMlJ6gCKgBGAs/s1600/Bunker3.jpg" alt="The Bunker Screenshot 3" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>While a solid title, unfortunately there is simply not enough interaction for the player to feel included in the events taking place on the screen, with the lack of choice casting the player into the role of spectator, rather than actually feeling like they are sharing in John’s experience within the bunker. That isn’t to say that the title is without merit however; with a brilliant storyline, fantastic acting and a solid musical score, if you’re after something a bit different or enjoy your games shorter and a bit more “hands off”, The Bunker is definitely for you.</br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:14px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b><em>Many thanks to Allan for his discussion during this review. </b></em></br></br></br></br></div> </div> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; clear:both; margin-bottom:50px;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; text-align:center; font-size:28px;"><b>FOR THE WIN OR FOR THE BIN?</b></br></br></div></br></br> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left: 30px; font-size:15px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b> &#43; Well suited for touch screen play. </br> &#43; Interesting story. </br>&#43; High production values with solid acting. </br> </br> &#45; Annoying crosshair when using controller. </br> &#45; Short title with limited replayability. </b></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left:50px; font-size:22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br><b>Verdict: Above Average – Worth a Try</b> </div><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:20px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-right:0px"/><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8YFgURgBUmY/WlcM0tHydTI/AAAAAAAABmA/REYQwA0C5nYxhrhQe9jo97deigQG44TpQCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarHalf.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-right:0px"/><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fc_pL2NK9DY/WlUjZUFf-kI/AAAAAAAABgk/BNKLCbO-EcoM-rl_ds-2ofbXDaCDPr2wACKgBGAs/s1600/ReviewStarNO.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-right:0px"/></br></br></br></div> Curtis Chapmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-972897531756508556.post-75112918704919104812018-04-05T00:00:00.000+01:002018-04-05T17:20:18.909+01:00Review: Sling Ming<div class="showpic"></br><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e2wNo4ltZns/WsVNRg9HhAI/AAAAAAAAC-s/Go95GEFLkyo40tZsGt1Oz5KkXUf8X8mHQCKgBGAs/s320/SlingMing.png" alt="Review: Sling Ming" /></div><h3> She may be a swinger, but she's certainly gonna make you work for it!</h3><br/><br/><a name='more'></a><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><div> <img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xx7pN9DqIwo/WkqThS0JxUI/AAAAAAAABSQ/75zNp0S0Ah0IYj37nsPXvW3Z0_oY6yS8QCKgBGAs/s1600/postConvo.png" alt="Join the Conversation!" usemap="#socialMap"/><map name="socialMap"> <area shape="circle" coords="198,97,26" href="https://www.facebook.com/NintendoPlayUK/posts/1858259771138480" target="_blank" alt="React on Facebook"> <area shape="circle" coords="253,97,26" href="https://twitter.com/NPlayUK” target="_blank" alt="React on Twitter"></map> </div></br></br></br></br> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; width:700px; padding-left:20px; margin-bottom:50px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:20px;"><b>Sling Ming </br></b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:14px;"><b> Good Night Brave Warrior | Nintendo Switch | Digital Only </br> 1 Player </br> </b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:12px;"> <b>Reviewed by: Curtis Chapman | 5th April 2018 </b> </br></br> <b> Developers Commentary by: Mattias Brynervall - Good Night Brave Warrior</b> </br></br><b> * Review Code Provided by: Good Night Brave Warrior * </b></br></br></br> </div></br></br></br><div style="clear:both;"></div></div> <div style="margin: 0px 85px 13.33px; width: 60%; float:left; text-align:center; font-size:14px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b><em>Nintendo Play is joined by Mattias Brynervall, Co-Founder of at Good Night Brave Warrior, for the included Developers Commentary. </b></em></div> <div style="clear:both; margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br><b><em>Ride the rails (or at least get dragged from a rope behind them) in Good Night Brave Warrior’s, Sling Ming. Releasing today on Nintendo Switch eShop for £10.79, we only have one question for you; how hard do you like your puzzle games?</b></em> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px;"></br>When developing a game, it must be hard to create a unique pitch. Even after the rise of the independent game developers taking chances on new and risky titles, ideas that were once niche and unique are now getting replicated and rehashed at an alarming rate. Good Night Brave Warrior looks like it may have found some new ground with Sling Ming, breathing life into a genre that is in need of a few new good ideas. </br></br>After a series of earthquakes threaten the citizens of the planet Topius, Princess Ming takes the initiative and sets off to investigate the cause of this sudden and strange phenomenon. With her royal advisor Iso in tow she descends into her basement only to discover the Oxylane, a long forgotten machine capable of allowing the rider to travel through areas of heavy pollution. This is achieved by donning a spacesuit-like outfit and tethering to it, to be dragged along like a ragdoll as it makes its way across its track. While riding the Oxylane to the depths of the planet, Ming discovers a possible root cause of the earthquakes, though its origins are hidden behind a giant door requiring 3 separate gem shaped keys to open. These gems rather (in)conveniently are scattered across the galaxy, so Ming sets off in attempt to gather the required gems and save the planet. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="position:inline; float:left; height:80px; width:10%;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nyickyw8YHw/WmTDMAB9k2I/AAAAAAAAB4U/PpBkhckNqP8n3AEOXMFqqB2nZVrGcaiHgCKgBGAs/s1600/dev%2Bsmall.png" alt="Developers Commentary" align="right" height ="60" /></div><div style="position:inline; float:left; width:63%; margin-left:10px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b><em> Mattias: The game mechanics were always the driving force, but we were very conscious about explaining the different concepts in ways which make sense in the fictitious game world. Too much of a dissonance between story and gameplay will break immersion. It's not easy, making a believable story about a slinging princess saving the world, but we sure tried. </b></em></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center;"></br><br></br><img src = "https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2SI1j98j6Qg/WsVVI4M0QvI/AAAAAAAAC_c/Q5Ng06x6vwwBLpYmXbXqYkrXDlhiq25YgCKgBGAs/s1600/sling1.jpg" alt = "Sling Ming Screenshot 1" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>Sling Ming’s gameplay is simple in contrast to some of the incredibly complex puzzles that are designed within. The main concept is to get Ming to the end of each screen by navigating across that particular length of the Oxylane. The Oxylane itself contains nodes scattered across it, selecting one of these nodes will cause Ming to be dragged to that particular node, swinging on her tether when she arrives due to momentum provided by the speed of that particular movement. Green nodes possess the ability to be moved along any solid connected background and changing the position of these is paramount in ensuring the Ming is able to get past the strategically placed platforms and pitfalls that block her from the exit. Dotted around each level are also coins that can be collected and traded in to skip a stage if it proves to be too much of a challenge, these also provide an added task for completionists, looking to obtain all of the coins across the entire game. </br></br></div> <div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="clear:both;"> </div><div style="position:inline; float:left; height:80px; width:10%;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nyickyw8YHw/WmTDMAB9k2I/AAAAAAAAB4U/PpBkhckNqP8n3AEOXMFqqB2nZVrGcaiHgCKgBGAs/s1600/dev%2Bsmall.png" alt="Developers Commentary" align="right" height ="60" /></div><div style="position:inline; float:left; width:63%; margin-left:10px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b><em> Mattias: The main mechanic - moving nodes and slinging a character between them - stayed the same throughout the project. We tried a few different approaches at making a game around that mechanic, however. In the beginning we envisioned a much faster game, focusing on speedrunning through the levels, but in the end we decided on a slower kind of puzzler instead. </b></em></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>Each of the games 4 planets are split up into 10 to 15 stages each, with a boss battle at the end of each set. Containing around 49 stages in total, you may find yourself initial quick to advance but the pace of the game slows down considerably when more thought must be put into the placement and timing of every node. Each planet is themed differently and contains unique puzzles and traps revolving around each planet's main elemental characteristic. </br></br>The games’ introduction level does a fantastic job of easing the player into the use of the Oxylane, the type of puzzles they will likely encounter and how to traverse the world using the physics-based movement mechanic that these challenges rely so heavily upon. The puzzles themselves increase in difficulty rapidly, with less intuitive instructions given on the more advanced techniques for whipping the princess around, techniques that quickly become a necessity to have at your disposal when navigating around oddly shaped platforms and to avoiding the frequent pitfalls during later levels. Attempting to make these manoeuvres becomes a case of more luck than judgement and requires time and patience to truly master. Those not willing to invest the time, or those not able to grasp the whole concept fully will notice their progress slowed to a halt rather quickly and frequent and infuriating deaths will sadly most likely eventually turn them off the title altogether. </br></br></div> <div style="clear:both;"> </div><div style="position:inline; float:left; height:80px; width:10%;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nyickyw8YHw/WmTDMAB9k2I/AAAAAAAAB4U/PpBkhckNqP8n3AEOXMFqqB2nZVrGcaiHgCKgBGAs/s1600/dev%2Bsmall.png" alt="Developers Commentary" align="right" height ="60" /></div><div style="position:inline; float:left; width:63%; margin-left:10px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b><em> Mattias: There's a lot of nuance to the gameplay and timing is crucial, but explaining how your timing impacts Ming's behaviour is tricky. There's quite a few levels designed to teach new techniques, but we deliberately didn't want to throw walls of text at the player. Rest assured that Ming's movement isn't as random as it might feel at first - with time you gain control over how she moves. </b></em></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c6sq5tUyZFE/WsVVb2bzqdI/AAAAAAAAC_g/Ha6BJ-sXuJUvIwpdJ0z5GJmKFY9-Ks8_ACKgBGAs/s1600/Sling2.jpg" alt="Sling Ming Screenshot 2" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>The title’s high definition 2D artwork is beautiful in its design, unfortunately, due to the nature of the Oxylane system, with Ming being dragged from place to place; there aren’t as many opportunities to see this lovely art animated as much as it would have been nice to see, though those moments when they are, however, certainly do not disappoint. </br></br> Featuring support for physical and touch-screen controls, the latter option feels much more intuitive and responsive when it comes to the quick succession of swings and grabs required to navigate some of the more difficult puzzles found in later stages of the game. While the game is fully playable using a controller and a necessity if you are looking to play the game in Docked Mode, it is definitely a lesser experience as a whole. </br></br></div> <div style="clear:both;"> </div><div style="position:inline; float:left; height:80px; width:10%;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nyickyw8YHw/WmTDMAB9k2I/AAAAAAAAB4U/PpBkhckNqP8n3AEOXMFqqB2nZVrGcaiHgCKgBGAs/s1600/dev%2Bsmall.png" alt="Developers Commentary" align="right" height ="60" /></div><div style="position:inline; float:left; width:63%; margin-left:10px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b><em> Mattias:We quite enjoy playing with a controller. It has its own strengths, like never missing a tap due to clumsy fingers or blocking the screen with your hand. The game was initially designed for touch, sure, but we spent a lot of time perfecting the controller support. Play with whatever is most comfortable for you, I guess. </b></em></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"> </br></br>As satisfying as the feeling of finally finishing this gruelling puzzler already is, Good Night Brave Warrior have also included a set of in-game achievements to test those who truly desire a challenge, with some of the hardest requiring you to blast through the entire game in under an hour, or more masochistically, complete the title while only dying less than three times. The Nintendo community is fairly split in opinion over the lack of an achievement system built into the Nintendo Switch and it is nice to see developers add extra optional challenges into their titles and the inclusion of them here, even at game level, only adds further replayability for those looking for more ways to tackle the title. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="position:inline; float:left; height:80px; width:10%;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nyickyw8YHw/WmTDMAB9k2I/AAAAAAAAB4U/PpBkhckNqP8n3AEOXMFqqB2nZVrGcaiHgCKgBGAs/s1600/dev%2Bsmall.png" alt="Developers Commentary" align="right" height ="60" /></div><div style="position:inline; float:left; width:63%; margin-left:10px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b><em>Mattias: It's a bit perplexing that Nintendo as no official support for achievements, being so widely adopted on other platforms. We decided to implement our own achievement system, as we didn't want the Switch version to be inferior in any way. Love them or hate them, but achievements are a bonus for a lot of people.</b></em></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pAvmdMGbfR4/WsVVnJN-c7I/AAAAAAAAC_k/nb8Ctv89M9cr2FrfPL7vm-aIVBTEMlnHACKgBGAs/s1600/Sling3.jpg" alt = "Sling Ming Screenshot 3" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>To summarise, Sling Ming is a challenging physics-based puzzler with a precise level design that occasionally forgets to make itself accessible enough to cater to those who do not have enough time to become adept at some of its more advanced gameplay manoeuvres. For those that do, however, the game is an enjoyable brain teaser with a cute and colourful aesthetic. If you’re a fan of puzzle games and you’re looking for something new, this should definitely be on your radar.</br></br></br></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:14px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b><em>Many thanks to Mattias for his discussion during this review. </b></em></br></br></br></br></div> </div> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; clear:both; margin-bottom:50px;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; text-align:center; font-size:28px; webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b>FOR THE WIN OR FOR THE BIN?</b></br></br></div></br></br><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left: 30px; font-size:15px; webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b> &#43; Intricate level/puzzle design. </br> &#43; Lovely 2D visuals. </br>&#43; Unique and challenging concept.</br> </br> &#45; Not enough explanation on mechanics. </br> &#45; May be too challenging for some. </b></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left:50px; font-size:22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br><b>Verdict: Above Average – Worth a Try</b> </div><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:20px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8YFgURgBUmY/WlcM0tHydTI/AAAAAAAABmA/REYQwA0C5nYxhrhQe9jo97deigQG44TpQCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarHalf.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-right:0px"/><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fc_pL2NK9DY/WlUjZUFf-kI/AAAAAAAABgk/BNKLCbO-EcoM-rl_ds-2ofbXDaCDPr2wACKgBGAs/s1600/ReviewStarNO.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-right:0px"/></br></br></br></div> Curtis Chapmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-972897531756508556.post-58030887158489890372018-04-04T04:20:00.003+01:002018-04-04T11:59:41.751+01:00Review: Metropolis:Lux Obscura<div class="showpic"></br><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u4vR1XCphyA/WsOVHYSSFjI/AAAAAAAAC8g/81cnlubfpzcwQQlsC3l4yYzDSSVCbM71gCKgBGAs/s320/Metrolpolis.png" alt="Review Metropolis: Lux Obscura" /></div><h3> Slide your tiles and gain closure in this graphic tale of vengeance.</h3><br/><br/><a name='more'></a><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><div> <img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xx7pN9DqIwo/WkqThS0JxUI/AAAAAAAABSQ/75zNp0S0Ah0IYj37nsPXvW3Z0_oY6yS8QCKgBGAs/s1600/postConvo.png" alt="Join the Conversation!" usemap="#socialMap"/><map name="socialMap"> <area shape="circle" coords="198,97,26" href="https://www.facebook.com/NintendoPlayUK/posts/1857923231172134" target="_blank" alt="React on Facebook"> <area shape="circle" coords="253,97,26" href="https://twitter.com/NPlayUK/status/981485521020051462" target="_blank" alt="React on Twitter"></map> </div></br></br></br></br> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; width:700px; padding-left:20px; margin-bottom:50px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:20px;"><b> Metrolpolis: Lux Obscura</br></b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:14px;"><b> Kthulu Productions | Nintendo Switch | Digital Only </br> 1 Player </br> </b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:12px;"> <b>Reviewed by: Curtis Chapman | 4th April 2018 </b></br></br><b>* Review Code Provided by: Sometimes You * </b> </br></br> </br> </div></br></br></br><div style="clear:both;"></div></div> <div style="clear:both; margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br><b><em>Help a man clear his name and hunt down the person responsible for his wrongful incarceration using nothing but sliding tiles, in Metropolis: Lux Obscura by Kthulu Solutions. Arriving digitally on the eShop today and with more guns, knives, drugs and boobs than you’ll know what to do with, is the world ready for a sexually charged Match3 battler? </b></em> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px;"></br>More and more 18 rated titles have been heading to the Nintendo eShop recently. Being both a blessing and a curse, giving parents something age relational to play themselves while forcing them to ensure that little Timmy doesn’t end up scarred for life, it shows a rising tide by Nintendo fans in the demand for games that cater specifically to adults, with the latest title by Kthulu Solutions looking to add to that collection by painting a grim picture of one man’s quest for vengeance. </br></br>Metropolis: Lux Obscura tells the story of Jon Lockhart. Recently released after years in prison, wrong accused of murder of his best friend, Jon heads back into the city’s underworld in an attempt to find the person responsible of framing him for the crime. Jon will come across many undesirables on his travels, all of them looking to do him harm. While it may get messy, the only way to the truth is through blood and bone. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PN0jfjQkDaw/WsOXpva94TI/AAAAAAAAC9A/5TwCLHmxdLIn5ngZkP8VuheiEcSXAaQRQCKgBGAs/s1600/metro1.jpg" alt = "Metropolis Screenshot 1" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>The film-noire storyline has a district Frank Miller’s Sin City feel to it, delving into a gritty criminal underbelly and not shying away from the violence, drugs and sex that often accompany the theme. The art is superbly drawn and takes the form a graphic novel to tell its tale, with all dialog and narration being professionally voice acted. With 4 endings to the games storyline, Kthulu Solutions encourage you to repeat the games ten or so battles multiple times to see how differently Jon’s life could end up simply by making different decisions along the way. While this does add to the games length slightly, the whole main campaign comes across slightly undercooked. With multiple characters initially introduced and with very little time to develop each one, the storyline finds itself abruptly coming to an end just as it all starts to pick up a gear. </br></br>Gameplay is split between deciding where Jon should visit next by selecting one of the available highlighted places on the map of the city, dealing with any dialog choices present and pushing forward the story, and then battling with thugs he meets in the games Match3 battle system. The battle system finds you sliding tiles horizontally or vertically across the board to line-up fists, boots, guns, knives and more in an attempt to whittle down your opponents health, with the enemy reacting each time a certain amount of turns have passed. Fights can be difficult as the enemies are rather strong and you will often find yourself fighting multiple enemies per battle. The difficulty does provide a sense of accomplishment however as it is rather satisfying when enemies are finally defeated and the battle is over. </br></br>On completing a battle you are presented with 4 random upgrades, enhancing Jon’s ability and shifting the way you will handle future battles. The title makes the unfortunate mistake of marketing “mental disorders” as a form of power upgrade, occasionally gifting Jon with enhanced abilities due to the fragility of his mental state. This feels like a poor choice of wording and while most likely unintentional, may alienate some of those who do not like to see such a sensitive issue exploited by using the subject as a gameplay mechanic and a means of highlighting how unhinged the main character is becoming. </BR></BR></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0V1WY-O25o4/WsOX4aPRy2I/AAAAAAAAC9E/XR3tv5UdGfsvRcUzxY0HP9Y1NcI8mR3PwCKgBGAs/s1600/metro2.jpg" alt="Metropolis Screenshot 2" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>Like many Match3 Games, your initial starting grid, as well as the subsequent tiles that fall onto the playing field when you clear some of the board, are completely random and change from play to play. While this does add the games replayability, making each battle unique, it removes any ability to learn from your many failures and prevents you from strategising for your next attempt. Instead, it leaves you repeating battles over and over until such time that luck finds you with a grid that starts strong and plays to your characters current set of upgrades. </br></br>Metropolis is in no way a family friendly title and is not a title you should allow your children to play, or even watch you as play, as you travel through its gritty story. Regardless of the fact that the gameplay element is a more involved Match3 Puzzle/battler, adult themes sit front and centre, with copious amounts of bad language, weapons and drug use, and more sex and nudity than an episode of Game of Thrones. It would probably be best for all involved that if you have children, you ensure they do not play this title. Those over 18 however should welcome the addition of more mature themes onto Nintendo’s Hybrid console. </br></br>With support for both touch-screen and control inputs, the game’s obvious comparison with popular mobile titles leads it to feeling a lot more natural when being played with touch-screen. Although the pace of the game does feel slower in comparison when played on the joy-con, the ability to see the gorgeous artwork up on your TV is worth the payoff. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WhhwRJe6G1o/WsOYBb5QBCI/AAAAAAAAC9I/Df2zlttxBNUjYhYFkMTkoDTEWkO4R2XugCKgBGAs/s1600/metro3.jpg" alt="Metropolis Screenshot 3" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br> While initially it may come across as the sort of re-skinned Match3 title that you would expect to find on your mobile phone, Metropolis: Lux Obscura contains enough variation in gameplay through its upgrades and non-linear story to provide a unique and enjoyable playing experience. The high quality polish of the games art and voice acting does a very good job at providing a complete package to a fairly simple gameplay mechanic and is only let down by that fact the game’s interesting story ends way before it should have.</br></br></br></div> </div> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; clear:both; margin-bottom:50px;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; text-align:center; font-size:28px;"><b>FOR THE WIN OR FOR THE BIN?</b></br></br></div></br></br> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left: 30px; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b> &#43; Gritty mature storyline with multiple endings. </br> &#43; Challenging Match3 battles. </br>&#43; Beautiful graphic-novel styled artwork. </br> </br> &#45; Only a handful of battles. </br> &#45; Story ends too abruptly. </br> &#45; Poor representation of mental disorders. </b></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left:50px; font-size:22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br><b>Verdict: Above Average – Worth a Try</b> </div><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:20px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8YFgURgBUmY/WlcM0tHydTI/AAAAAAAABmA/REYQwA0C5nYxhrhQe9jo97deigQG44TpQCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarHalf.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-right:0px"/><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fc_pL2NK9DY/WlUjZUFf-kI/AAAAAAAABgk/BNKLCbO-EcoM-rl_ds-2ofbXDaCDPr2wACKgBGAs/s1600/ReviewStarNO.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-right:0px"/></br></br></br></div> Curtis Chapmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-972897531756508556.post-45139824053334356252018-03-30T01:18:00.001+01:002018-03-30T01:32:03.294+01:00Dive In: Penny Punching Princess <div class="showpic"></br><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-paUbbptphBI/WrvTAuNxA2I/AAAAAAAAC6U/LgArIGZbs2EjKErTTuBbKS8zwh0AoKN_QCKgBGAs/s320/PennyPunching.png" alt="Review: Penny Punching Princess" /></div><h3>We're spending like there's no tomorrow in 10 minutes of the latest NIS title to hit the west. </h3><br/><br/><a name='more'></a><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><div><img src="https://tinyurl.com/ycsanhfu" alt="Join the Conversation!" usemap="#socialMap"/><map name="socialMap"> <area shape="circle" coords="198,97,26" href="https://www.facebook.com/NintendoPlayUK/posts/1855644434733347" target="_blank" alt="React on Facebook"> <area shape="circle" coords="253,97,26" href="https://twitter.com/NPlayUK/status/979515843406069760" target="_blank" alt="React on Twitter"></map> </div></br><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 90%; float:left; font-size:16px;"></br></br>Todays Dive In is a 10 minute look at Penny Punching Princess from Nippon Ichi Software (NIS America). Released in the EU on the 30th March for £39.99, with the US copy to follow the week after. A top down dungeon crawler with a wacky storyline centered around a kingdom reliance on money that oozes with NIS' unique brand of humour. </br></br>All our videos can be found on our <a href ="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3ZOsC9norDqecjeXRkI9FQ" target="_blank"> YouTube Channel </a>. </br></br><b><em>A full review of Penny Punching Princess can be found <a href ="http://www.nintendoplay.co.uk/2018/03/review-penny-punching-princess.html"> HERE </a> </b></em> </br></br></br></div></br></br> <div style="text-align:center; width:90%" ></br></br><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2RJURG1RA7g?rel=0&amp;showinfo=0" frameborder="0"gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></div> <div style="clear:both; margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 60%; margin-left:15%; font-size:16px; text-align:center;"></br></br></br><img height='80px' src='https://tinyurl.com/ydfkwfcs' width='80px'/></div></div>Curtis Chapmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-972897531756508556.post-13013364252263251552018-03-29T11:50:00.001+01:002018-03-30T02:57:19.739+01:00Review: Penny Punching Princess<div class="showpic"></br><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-paUbbptphBI/WrvTAuNxA2I/AAAAAAAAC6U/LgArIGZbs2EjKErTTuBbKS8zwh0AoKN_QCKgBGAs/s320/PennyPunching.png" alt="Review Penny Punching Princess" /></div><h3> I aint saying she's a gold digger... </h3><br/><br/><a name='more'></a><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><div> <img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xx7pN9DqIwo/WkqThS0JxUI/AAAAAAAABSQ/75zNp0S0Ah0IYj37nsPXvW3Z0_oY6yS8QCKgBGAs/s1600/postConvo.png" alt="Join the Conversation!" usemap="#socialMap"/><map name="socialMap"> <area shape="circle" coords="198,97,26" href="https://www.facebook.com/NintendoPlayUK/posts/1855390884758702" target="_blank" alt="React on Facebook"> <area shape="circle" coords="253,97,26" href="https://twitter.com/NPlayUK/status/979312393707810816" target="_blank" alt="React on Twitter"></map> </div></br></br></br></br> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; width:700px; padding-left:20px; margin-bottom:50px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:20px;"><b> Penny Punching Princess </br></b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:14px;"><b> NIS America | Nintendo Switch | Physical and Digital (EU Digital Only) </br> 1 Player </br> </b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:12px;"> <b>Reviewed by: Curtis Chapman | 29th March 2018 </b></br></br><b>* Review Code Provided by: NIS America * </b> </br></br> </br> </div></br></br></br><div style="clear:both;"></div></div> <div style="clear:both; margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br><b><em>It’s all about the money, money, money In Penny Punching Princess, Nippon Ichi’s newest title to be brought to the western market. Out in the EU tomorrow for £39.99, with the US following next week, you might be able buy your friends and you might be able to buy your enemies, but the real question is, will you buy this game?</b></em> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px;"></br>Once upon a time there was a world where strength and brawn were the predominant characteristics of a civilization, where tyrannical leaders ruled with an iron fist and heroes arose to defeat evil with nothing but will, determination and a big sword to carry them forward. That world is no more. Shifted into the future by the power of capitalism, it is now a place where money is power, cash is king (or queen) and where anyone, no matter how weak or feeble, can simply buy their way to victory by greasing enough palms. Coming across as more of a satirical jibe at the pitfalls of placing faith entirely in the power of the Almighty Dollar, the story finds our Princess, followed faithfully by her beetle butler Sebastian, fighting her way through mobs of hired monsters as she attempts to seek vengeance for downfall of her tyrannical father, and the royal heritage robbed from her, by taking on the mighty Dragoloan monster family. </br></br>If you are familiar with Nippon Ichi Software’s back catalog then you will already be well versed in the development house’s love for the weird and wonderful when it comes to a game's narrative. With some of the story lost in translation and other parts just plain confusing, the plot is fun and quirky and will get you from A to B, even if you don’t really understand half of who, what and why. Initially, you may get the feeling that characters and settings are fairly throwaway, but as the game progresses much more of the games world and the Princess’ story is explained further while taking subtle jabs at the status quo in the process. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PCnwMA0GjRk/WrwdTEjuYHI/AAAAAAAAC7M/0KEasrpKeO4BoXYKENTkWDbm6lFX8S-0QCKgBGAs/s1600/penny1.jpg" alt = "Penny Punching Princess Screenshot 1" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px;"></br></br>The bulk of the gameplay for Penny Punching Princess takes place inside the game's maze-like top-down levels. Each stage tasks you with clearing the level of enemies, with each encounter fencing you in to keep combat tight and restrictive. Combat is made more difficult by floor traps getting restricting your movement and causing you damage while you dispatch your foes, but both enemies and traps can be used to your advantage, with a little the help from some money. </br></br>The key tool in our main characters arsenal is her calculator, with this magical electronic device you can use the wealth obtained throughout each level to bribe enemies and traps to do your bidding. When bribing an enemy you to obtain a few charges of that enemy’s special attack, to be called on until depleted. Bribing traps allows you to take control of that specific pitfall, setting it off to damage the enemy when lured on top. Keep in mind though, only one enemy or trap skill can be held at any time, with bribing another simply discarding the previous one. Money is earnt by defeating enemies and opening the chests that you find dotted around each level, stunning the enemies and performing a ‘break’ allows you to extract further coinage by spinning the analog stick while they are in a trance, a mechanic that is paramount to earning some serious income. </br></br>As well as playing as the princess, you are also eventually able to choose to take control of her zombie relative, Isabella. This secondary character possesses a more powerful attack and a different move set but unfortunately lacks the Princesses ability to bribe with the calculator. </BR></BR></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T7Xs0vaHB9Y/WrwdtPFnaKI/AAAAAAAAC7Q/g3vSU0mpIHsLN_UGODpCmZwQ2aCDEx7nwCKgBGAs/s1600/penny2.jpg" alt="Penny Punching Princess Screenshot 2" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px;"></br></br>Unlike other RPG’s where you increase stats by gaining experience points to level up your character, Penny Punching Princess tasks you with obtaining statues of Zenigami, God of money. These can either be found in limited quantities in each stage or constructed through your workshop, with each statue gifting you with a different amount of skill points and requiring you to use a certain amount of your kingdoms citizens and spend your reserved cash to construct. Accumulated skill points can then be used to train your characters, raising their base stats and key skills as you would any in any RPG. Armour can also be created in the same way, increasing your attack and defense values, the amount of money you can carry at any one time and also includes one special attack that recharges after each use. The requirements for creating armor and statues are not revealed until at least one of each enemy required has become a citizen, giving you an incentive to bribe pretty much every type of enemy that you come across. </br></br>The game features control schemes that allow the calculator mechanic to be used with either the touchscreen or using the controller. While the touch-screen is more intuitive when trying to type out a numerical value for a specific enemy in a cluttered battle, the controller does a better job of ensuring the screen does not get obstructed as much while playing in Handheld Mode and keeps gameplay consistent if you flip between Docked Mode and Handheld a lot. </br></br>Attention to detail can be seen in every single graphical asset in the game. Much like many other NIS titles the game takes a mixed art styles approach with nicely animated, hard-edged retro-looking 2D sprites sitting proudly atop of a three-dimensional plane, creating that flat-3D effect. The level scenery and the trap-like relics that litter the playfield are displayed using a contrasting high definition 2D art style which sits nicely with the game’s crisp HD User Interface. All of these art styles working together in unison look fantastic and help the game stand out from the many pixel art style titles currently littering the Switch’s eShop. The game’s save/load screen is the only anomaly, with its plain 8-bit layout of white on black feeling like it may have been skipped over when finishing assets, though With so many different styles in use it’s difficult to if it was a deliberate choice or just plain forgotten about, playing in its favor somewhat. </br></br>On the topic of saving and loading, the game doesn’t feature an autosave function at all, relying on you to ensure that you are saving at regular intervals so that large chunks of your progress aren’t completely lost if you need a break and decided to play a different game. In a title involving repeatedly grinding the same levels continuously to ensure that you have bribed enough enemies or relics for your next upgrade, it is easy to forget that while you may have not technically pushed the story forward for the last hour that you have actually made progress, and it’s not particularly an hour you want to be repeating when you accidentally turn the game off without saving (which by experience, can happen... several times). </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wz5uNLZVYFQ/Wrwd4w-_ZiI/AAAAAAAAC7U/iN5410h2UTka-I5424vLy8uHpvkX6qKewCKgBGAs/s1600/penny3.jpg" alt="Penny Punching Princess Screenshot 3" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px;"></br></br> Penny Punching Princess is a marvellous title that, initially, is simple and streamlined enough to be accessible to those not well versed in Nippon Ichi Software’s unique blend of crazy gameplay and off the wall storytelling, while also containing enough subtle nuances in the gameplay mechanics and having copious amounts of upgrading your character through repetitive level grinding, that will appeal to even the most die-hard NIS fan. If Action/RPG dungeon crawling is your thing and you want a game that’s not necessarily going to have you micromanaging your character and their stats every 10 minutes, Penny Punching Princess is definitely for you. </br></br></br></div> </div> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; clear:both; margin-bottom:50px;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; text-align:center; font-size:28px;"><b>FOR THE WIN OR FOR THE BIN?</b></br></br></div></br></br> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left: 30px; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b> &#43; Enjoyable dungeon crawling action </br> &#43; Addictive upgrade system. </br>&#43; unique art style. </br> &#43; Tons of content. </br> </br> &#45; No autosave </br> &#45; Often confusing storyline. </b></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left:50px; font-size:22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br><b>Verdict: Almost There - Highly Recommended</b> </div><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:20px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-right:0px"/><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-right:0px"/><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8YFgURgBUmY/WlcM0tHydTI/AAAAAAAABmA/REYQwA0C5nYxhrhQe9jo97deigQG44TpQCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarHalf.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-right:0px"/> </br></br></br></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b><em> For gameplay footage of Penny Punching Princess, see our 10 minute Dive In: <a href="http://www.nintendoplay.co.uk/2018/03/dive-in-penny-punching-princess.html" target="_blank"> HERE </a> </em></b></div> Curtis Chapmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-972897531756508556.post-63338628498933216732018-03-26T14:58:00.000+01:002018-03-27T15:17:51.116+01:00Massive eShop Sale Currently Underway!<div class="showpic"></br><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VhpzHngAkF8/WrpIuS9cIrI/AAAAAAAAC5E/iicvEciX9lMSvPCy-KqEnve-GnKxV-9LQCKgBGAs/s1600/eshop.png" /></div><h3>Huge discounts for Switch, 3DS & WII U - Get involved! </h3><br/><br/><a name='more'></a><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><div><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xx7pN9DqIwo/WkqThS0JxUI/AAAAAAAABSQ/75zNp0S0Ah0IYj37nsPXvW3Z0_oY6yS8QCKgBGAs/s1600/postConvo.png" alt="Join the Conversation!" usemap="#socialMap"/><map name="socialMap"> <area shape="circle" coords="198,97,26" href="https://www.facebook.com/NintendoPlayUK/posts/1854641228167001" target="_blank" alt="React on Facebook"> <area shape="circle" coords="253,97,26" href="https://twitter.com/NPlayUK/status/978636092848181248" target="_blank" alt="React on Twitter"></map> </div></br><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 60%; float:left; font-size:16px;"></br></br></br></br>If you haven't purchased anything digitally recently you may not be aware that there is currently a massive sale running on Nintendo's EU eShop, across Nintendo's recent consoles!</br></br>Discounts range from 10% - 85% and with over 140 titles included in the sale, including many new high profile triple A releases, now is the time to get online and grab those titles that you've been holding off on buying, or simply give new and unexpected a try! <br/><br/>The sale started on the 25th March but don't worry, there's still enough time for you to have a think and gather up your pennies as the sale is not due to end until 5th April. Happy Spending! </br></br><b>What did you pick up? Join the conversation online and let us know!</b></br></br></div></br></br> <div style='width:300px; float:right; padding-right:40px;'><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Save up to 86% on a range of top titles for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NintendoSwitch?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NintendoSwitch</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/3DS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#3DS</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WiiU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WiiU</a> in our Spring into Action <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/eShop?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#eShop</a> sale, now on!<br>👉 <a href="https://t.co/YR2RSRZNSj">https://t.co/YR2RSRZNSj</a> <a href="https://t.co/KnqwDDt3Mm">pic.twitter.com/KnqwDDt3Mm</a></p>&mdash; Nintendo of Europe (@NintendoEurope) <a href="https://twitter.com/NintendoEurope/status/976856218361884672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2018</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> <div style="clear:both; margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 60%; margin-left:15%; font-size:16px; text-align:center;"></br></br></br><img height='80px' src='https://tinyurl.com/ydfkwfcs' width='80px'/></div></div>Curtis Chapmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-972897531756508556.post-11064342921058266772018-03-23T21:45:00.001+00:002018-03-23T21:58:33.826+00:00Review: Gekido - Kintaro's Revenge<div class="showpic"></br><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CFbvZ6ZKq6w/WrVn9vhismI/AAAAAAAAC3w/H7-C9QoffQkiI-vgSZKA_sflbOgyz2B1ACKgBGAs/s1600/Gekido.png" alt="Review Gekido:Kintaro's Revenge" /></div><h3> Is anyone after a nutritious and health restoring floor hamburger? </h3><br/><br/><a name='more'></a><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><div> <img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xx7pN9DqIwo/WkqThS0JxUI/AAAAAAAABSQ/75zNp0S0Ah0IYj37nsPXvW3Z0_oY6yS8QCKgBGAs/s1600/postConvo.png" alt="Join the Conversation!" usemap="#socialMap"/><map name="socialMap"> <area shape="circle" coords="198,97,26" href="https://www.facebook.com/NintendoPlayUK/posts/1853019424995848" target="_blank" alt="React on Facebook"> <area shape="circle" coords="253,97,26" href="https://twitter.com/NPlayUK/status/977302731835826177" target="_blank" alt="React on Twitter"></map> </div></br></br></br></br> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; width:700px; padding-left:20px; margin-bottom:50px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:20px;"><b> Gekido: Kintaro's Revenge </br></b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:14px;"><b> Naps Team | Nintendo Switch | Digital Only </br> 1-2 Players (Local Only) </br> </b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:12px;"> <b>Reviewed by: Curtis Chapman | 23rd March 2018 </b></br></br><b>* Review Code Provided by: Naps Team * </b> </br></br> </br> </div></br></br></br><div style="clear:both;"></div></div> <div style="clear:both; margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br><b><em>Punch and kick your way through hoards of the undead, now with a friend, in a re-release of the classic 2002 Gameboy Advance title, Gekido: Kintaro’s Revenge. Available digitally on Nintendo Switch priced at £13.49, it’s time to once again punch random objects to find some food to eat off the floor.</b></em> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px;"></br>Nintendo, and its newest console Switch, have come under criticism from the more vocal elements of its online community due to the companies’ silence over the omission of its staple “Virtual Console”. A back catalog of old Nintendo titles available digitally on the eShop and has been something present in most, if not all, of the consoles and handhelds from last few generations of Nintendo hardware. Some developers are not going to wait and have decided to take the reins and simply port over their existing older titles, giving players their recommended nostalgic gaming fix. Naps Team have become the latest, bringing the hit 2002 Game Boy Advance title, Gekido: Kinatro’s Revenge to the Nintendo Switch, making improvements to it along the way. </br></br>Gekido tells the story of Tetsuo, a disciple in the art of Shin-Ken. Sent to investigate strange happenings in a far-off village, Tetsuo soon discovers children of the village have been going missing and the dead are rising from the grave. With news that the old temple has been overrun with demons, it is up to him to restore peace and recover the missing children. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NN_uXusTpzc/WrVy9ytMvLI/AAAAAAAAC4Q/ZB7DKPvZrNscuUnEg7pEsukOCvMLZ2cuACKgBGAs/s1600/Gekido1.jpg" alt = "Gekido Screenshot 1" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px;"></br></br>Gameplay in Gekido is a beat’em-up similar to the Streets of Rage, Final Fight, Battletoads or that 4-player Simpson’s arcade game that you may have played as a kid. The action takes place from a side-on perspective and while our protagonist is armed with nothing but a punch, a kick and the ability to jump, he must find his way through each stage, beating on the hoards of undead enemies that try to take him down along the way. Upon physical contact with an enemy, the enemies life bar is displayed on the screen, just under your own, giving you an idea of just how much damage would be required to finish them off once and for all. Destroying objects found during your travels will occasionally reward you with health (in the form of food) or temporary buffs/debuffs, increasing or decreasing your stats or even making you invulnerable for a short period of time </br></br>The level design itself does show its age and is somewhat difficult to navigate. With no real handholding of any description to guide you through the non-linear levels, unnecessary backtracking often occurs, whittling down your life by forcing you to engage in unnecessary encounters. </BR></BR>Unlike arcade titles of the past, Naps Team understands that it simply might not be possible to play through the entire story mode in one sitting so instead saves your progress between stages, allowing you to select the stage again from the main menu if you stop playing or die. The caveat to this is that you will only ever have the same amount of lives that you finished the previous stage with so practice to beat the early stages without losing man lives is critical in finishing the game. </BR></BR></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6mxaMX5Hm8c/WrVyyjqQ-TI/AAAAAAAAC4M/OAhwPh779_MFPQotsrOhATQluckzVmZwQCKgBGAs/s1600/Gekido2.jpg" alt="Gekido Screenshot 2" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px;"></br></br>Besides the main story mode, there are also two new modes included in this re-release. The first, Relic Hunter Mode, is a procedurally generated dungeon that mixes up the level layout and enemy positions, tasking you with tracking down a relic with only one life. It’s recommended to play through the main game (where you have multiple lives) first to get a feel of enemies and their attack patterns as late level enemies can almost immediately appear in Relic Hunter Mode, causing you to waste a large chunk of life trying to figure out how to beat them. The second mode, Survival Mode, gives you a more traditional linear level requiring you to reach the far right of the stage to proceed to the next. You are only given one life to see how far you are able to progress. The game gives you a final score when you do finally die, unfortunately as there are no online Leaderboards bragging rights are limited to the person sitting directly next to you at the time. </br></br>While containing graphical assets from the original release, the game also features toggleable re-worked and updated music and cut-scenes, as well as a 2 player co-operative mode that wasn’t present in the original. Scan Line filters have been included to replicate that CRT monitor effect and Antialiasing to smooth over some of the harder edges of the 2D artwork. </br></br>With no difficulty select present in the game, all modes of Gekido are punishingly difficult. The game constantly throws you to the floor when you are either hit by an enemy, touch a floor trap or fail to make a platform jump. While this “knock to the floor” effect is prevalent in many beat'em-ups, few go to such an extreme as Gekido which can become frustrating when you are fighting large groups of enemies or in one of the games many platforming sections. An artwork gallery giving you a peek into some of the original 2002 concept art is also included, though the option to select individual pictures is not present; instead, the gallery is simply a slideshow, with button presses only allowing you to navigate to the next picture. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y2dR0E1allw/WrVzIAA6w-I/AAAAAAAAC4U/6pdY7ZyUqPQ_CYxub6RDz8x31v8z7PV-QCKgBGAs/s1600/Gekido3.jpg" alt="Gekido Screenshot 3" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px;"></br></br> Gekido is a fantastic throwback to a simpler time, providing a more streamlined title full of nonstop action that is gruelingly difficult to beat. Besides the ability to lose a large amount of life through cheap knockdowns during combat and while trying to jump across awkward platforming sections, the title does a wonderful job of reminding you that the Gameboy Advance had some truly fantastic gems during its lifetime. Let’s hope that Naps Team has chosen to release this title as a precursor to the continuation of the Gekido property as more of this style of title would be welcome on the Nintendo Switch. So if you enjoy a bit of arcade styled beat’em up action, make sure not to miss Gekido: Kintaro’s Revenge. </br></br></br></div> </div> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; clear:both; margin-bottom:50px;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; text-align:center; font-size:28px;"><b>FOR THE WIN OR FOR THE BIN?</b></br></br></div></br></br> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left: 30px; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b> &#43; Entertaining co-op beat'em-up experience. </br> &#43; Relic Hunter mode adds tons of replayability. </br>&#43; Feels smooth and repsonsive in both Handheld and Docked. </br> </br> &#45; No difficulty select. </br> &#45; The knockdown effect is frustrating. </br> &#45; Music is somewhat repetative. </b></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left:50px; font-size:22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br><b>Verdict: Very Good Job – Recommended Buy</b> </div><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:20px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-right:0px"/><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-right:0px"/><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fc_pL2NK9DY/WlUjZUFf-kI/AAAAAAAABgk/BNKLCbO-EcoM-rl_ds-2ofbXDaCDPr2wACKgBGAs/s1600/ReviewStarNO.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-right:0px"/></br></br></br></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b><em> For gameplay footage of Gekido: Kintaro's Revenge, see our see our 10 minute Dive In: <a href="http://www.nintendoplay.co.uk/2018/03/dive-in-gekido-kintaros-revenge.html" target="_blank"> HERE </a> </em></b></div> Curtis Chapmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-972897531756508556.post-11054093527884822852018-03-22T23:04:00.004+00:002018-04-03T20:11:46.065+01:00Review: Slayaway Camp - Butcher's Cut<div class="showpic"></br><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hMERma5VjOE/WrQsfm77OrI/AAAAAAAAC2Y/Og4AkeWvpWopb3J_T-vXU34O1LFN4UiUwCKgBGAs/s1600/Slayaway.png" alt="Review: Slayaway Camp" /></div><h3> I've seen enough movies to know that any weirdo wearing a mask is never friendly. </h3><br/><br/><a name='more'></a><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><div> <img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xx7pN9DqIwo/WkqThS0JxUI/AAAAAAAABSQ/75zNp0S0Ah0IYj37nsPXvW3Z0_oY6yS8QCKgBGAs/s1600/postConvo.png" alt="Join the Conversation!" usemap="#socialMap"/><map name="socialMap"> <area shape="circle" coords="198,97,26" href="https://www.facebook.com/NintendoPlayUK/posts/1852608995036891" target="_blank" alt="React on Facebook"> <area shape="circle" coords="253,97,26" href="https://twitter.com/NPlayUK/status/976959854857408517" target="_blank" alt="React on Twitter"></map> </div></br></br></br></br> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; width:700px; padding-left:20px; margin-bottom:50px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:20px;"><b> Slayawy Camp: Butcher's Cut </br></b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:14px;"><b> Blue Wizard Digtial | Nintendo Switch | Digital Only </br> 1 Player </br> </b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:12px;"> <b>Reviewed by: Curtis Chapman | 22nd March 2018 </b> </br></br> <b> * Review Code Provided by: Digerati * </b></br></br></br> </div></br></br></br><div style="clear:both;"></div></div> <div style="clear:both; margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br><b><em>Just when you thought it was safe to turn on your Switch.... Slayaway Camp: Butcher's Cut. Flip the script and play as one of many recognisable movie killers in this puzzle title from Blue Wizard Digital, out now on Nintendo Switch. Just how creative will your killing be? </b></em> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px;"></br>Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween; while they all try hard to have you leaping out of your skin, it’s hard not to chuckle a little each time every time the main antagonist appears to reap his vengeance on a clueless teen. It might be the unrealistic nature of the whole thing, the cheesy special effects, goofy prosthetics or simply the ridiculously hammy dialog, though it’s never really been clear if the tongue in cheek humor was entirely intentional or simply a by-product of low production values. This mix of B-movie horror and dark humor is clear and intentional however in Slayaway Camp: Butcher's Cut, out now on Nintendo Switch. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A5r-UvOsjhg/WrQ1zM-n_JI/AAAAAAAAC28/KDwCVwoG5bkjn_kp9CbZyj5bsZN9hZtJACKgBGAs/s1600/slay1.jpg" alt = "The Final Station Screenshot 1" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px;"></br></br>The complete edition of Blue Wizard Digitals puzzler and originally released on PC and mobile devices, this 3D sliding puzzle title tasks you with using iconic movie killers to dispatch the stereotypical teenage campers and counselors before swiftly making your escape. This new version adds extra levels, killers and more intricate and even more creative humorous ways to dispatch the innocent, unsuspectingly teens. </br></br>Swiping or using the joy-con (directional buttons or analog stick) will slide your killer across the screen, either horizontally or vertically, Only stopping when they bump into an object, an innocent, or fall into one of the games traps such as water, fire or holes. Campers flee when you are positioned closely and herding them around the level is often a puzzle in itself, using them to ensure you are positioned exactly where you need to be to make all required executions. </br></br>Occasionally the game will mix up the rules, such as limiting the number of moves that the player is allowed to use to kill all the civilians and escape or else face the wrath of the SWAT teams, keeping the levels fresh and enjoyable. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-smVQLEZNJI4/WrQ1mECmiMI/AAAAAAAAC24/IzAAv98aZtIzd3J7O8jM3Bg2lfdptDtPgCKgBGAs/s1600/slay2.jpg" alt=Slayaway Camp Screenshot 2" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px;"></br></br> While the games cute low-poly cuboids aesthetic may look child-friendly but when played as intended they are far from it and blood, decapitations, drowning and squashing are never in short supply. Luckily the game does contain both a gore and clean mode, selectable on your initial play. This tweaks the game’s many settings to ensure that no little eyes are scarred from attending an outdoor sleepover ever again. These can be further adjusted at any time from the games menu, finding that overall look and level of cartoon-like visceral horror that suits you. </br></br>Puzzles range from the mundane to the fiendishly difficult, though the introduction of new mechanics are introduced slowly and do a good job of not overwhelm the player when they pop up. Missteps are not the end of the world with rewind and fast forward buttons available in-game, providing a penalty-free way to move back and forward between all of the moves that have been made on your current attempt at the level. For those completely stumped there is also the option to be shown the solution to each puzzle, though this comes at a cost. </br></br>After finishing each puzzle you are awarded some coins and greeted with a short mini-game, requiring you to stop a horizontally sliding arrow within a zone, success in this executes a creative kill and earns you a few extra coins in the process. Coins can be spent at any time in the in-game shop, containing blind boxes of extra killers to play as and more extravagant kills to unlock in the form of purchasable “Gore Packs”. The amount of currency required for these purchases is variable though coins accumulate naturally through your playthrough. While it may be necessary to replay some of the levels to earn enough coins to purchase the 60+ killers and 90+ Gore Packs available in the store, the average player wouldn’t consider grinding all of these out a necessity for overall enjoyment. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DYoVXMwqzUs/WrQ1b9g6mrI/AAAAAAAAC20/moLUP4824tUAcBpoSfFH-pKsAhOXGycPgCKgBGAs/s1600/slay3.jpg" alt="Slayaway Camp Screenshot 3" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px;"></br></br>While some may still want to draw a direct comparison between both the Switch and mobile releases, it doesn’t change the fact that Slayaway camp is a fantastic puzzle title, perfectly suited for the consoles hybrid capabilities. With an insane amount of content and a cute but sadistic style of humour that will leave you feeling somewhat guilty as you chuckle away as you decapitate yet another camper, if you even remotely enjoy short puzzle titles and also have a penchant for slasher flicks of the 1980’s, picking this title up will be a no-brainer. </br></br></br></div> </div> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; clear:both; margin-bottom:50px;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; text-align:center; font-size:28px;"><b>FOR THE WIN OR FOR THE BIN?</b></br></br></div></br></br><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left: 30px; font-size:16px;"><b> &#43; Over 300 puzzles. </br> &#43; Lots of collectables. </br> &#43; Perfect for short sessions. </br> </br> &#45; Audio can be somewhat repetative. </br> &#45; Limited replay value. </br> &#45; Not much is unique to each killer. </b></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left:50px; font-size:22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br><b>Verdict: Very Good Job - Recommended Buy </b> </div><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:20px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fc_pL2NK9DY/WlUjZUFf-kI/AAAAAAAABgk/BNKLCbO-EcoM-rl_ds-2ofbXDaCDPr2wACKgBGAs/s1600/ReviewStarNO.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-right:0px"/></br></br></br></div> Curtis Chapmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-972897531756508556.post-44788448009141498692018-03-20T19:48:00.000+00:002018-04-26T10:41:41.029+01:00Spring 2018 Spring Showcase Breakdown<div class="showpic"></br><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XXSAZlQvcZY/WrFklo3GizI/AAAAAAAAC1w/MkSuJYyMusoBaL7cM2WYqgW2jCSIMIpWQCKgBGAs/s1600/nindies.png" alt"Nindies" /></div><h3>A vague look at what's to come in 2018 from (n)Indie Developers. </h3><br/><br/><a name='more'></a><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><div><img src="https://tinyurl.com/ycsanhfu" alt="Join the Conversation!" usemap="#socialMap"/><map name="socialMap"> <area shape="circle" coords="198,97,26" href="https://www.facebook.com/NintendoPlayUK/posts/1851729355124855" target="_blank" alt="React on Facebook"> <area shape="circle" coords="253,97,26" href="https://twitter.com/NPlayUK/status/976185345736937474" target="_blank" alt="React on Twitter"></map> </div> </br><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 90%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br>Hot on the heels of their most recent Direct presentation, Nintendo continuned their 2018 momentum today with a showcase of some of their "Nindies", a partnership between them and various independant developers to get as many titles as possible onto the hybrid console. </br></br>While more of a lowkey affair than the previous Direct (well, how could you really top the bombshell that was the Super Smash Bros. announcement), trailers for 14 titles were shown with no concrete dates, giving fans a general idea of what to look forward to throughout 2018. </br></br></br> <b>A quickfire breakdown of the announcements include:</b></br></br></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 90%; float:left; font-size:20px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b>SWITCH </b> </br></br></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 90%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><b>Mark of the Ninja Remastered:</b> Out Fall 2018 </br></br><b>Fantasy Strike</b> Out Summer 2018 </br></br><b>Just Shapes and Beats</b> Out Summer 2018 </br></br><b>Garage:</b> Out Spring 2018</br></br><b>Pool Panic:</b> Out 2018 </br></br><b>Bomb Chicken:</b> Out Summer 2018 </br></br><b>Lumines Remastered:</b> Out Spring 2018</br></br><b>Reigns Kings & Queens:</b> Out Spring 2018 </br></br><b>Light Fall:</b> Out Spring 2018 </br></br><b>West of Loathing:</b> Out Spring 2018 </br></br><b>Spodeo:</b> Out Spring 2018 </br></br><b>The Messenger:</b> Out Summer 2018 </br></br><b>Bad North:</b> Out Summer 2018 </br></br><b>Banner Saga 3:</b> Out Summer 2018 </br></br> </br></br></br><b> Check out video below to see the announcements in full: </b> </br></br></br></br> </div> <div style="text-align:center; width:90%" ><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0NWKUHl6JLY?rel=0&amp;showinfo=0" frameborder="0"gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></br><b>Video uploaded by Nintendo</b></div> <div style="clear:both; margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 60%; margin-left:15%; font-size:16px; text-align:center;"></br></br></br><img height='80px' src='https://tinyurl.com/ydfkwfcs' alt="Mushroom" width='80px'/> </div> </div>Curtis Chapmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-972897531756508556.post-90024913800160530422018-03-19T10:33:00.000+00:002018-04-03T20:11:59.730+01:00Review: The Final Station <div class="showpic"></br><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m3cGSaeTRbM/Wq4rPir_QTI/AAAAAAAACz0/1AEcysuooqk1e7sL5Ipz4LN5Nazyx22sACKgBGAs/s320/TheFinalStation.png" alt="Review: The Final Station" /></div><h3> Survival horror meets customer service sim, is it more Crazy Train or Thomas the Tank Engine? </h3><br/><br/><a name='more'></a><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><div> <img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xx7pN9DqIwo/WkqThS0JxUI/AAAAAAAABSQ/75zNp0S0Ah0IYj37nsPXvW3Z0_oY6yS8QCKgBGAs/s1600/postConvo.png" alt="Join the Conversation!" usemap="#socialMap"/><map name="socialMap"> <area shape="circle" coords="198,97,26" href="https://www.facebook.com/NintendoPlayUK/posts/1850752321889225" target="_blank" alt="React on Facebook"> <area shape="circle" coords="253,97,26" href="https://twitter.com/NPlayUK/status/975323459780792320" target="_blank" alt="React on Twitter"></map> </div></br></br></br></br> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; width:700px; padding-left:20px; margin-bottom:50px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:20px;"><b> The Final Station </br></b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:14px;"><b> Do My Best Games | Nintendo Switch | Digital Only </br> 1 Player </br> </b> </div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 70%; float:left; white-space:nowrap; font-size:12px;"> <b>Reviewed by: Curtis Chapman | 18th March 2018 </b> </br></br> <b> * Review Code Provided by: Tiny Build * </b></br></br></br> </div></br></br></br><div style="clear:both;"></div></div> <div style="clear:both; margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br></br><b><em>Think you could keep your cool and take your train to the end of the line, keeping your passengers happy in the process, all during the end of days? Well you can now find out in The Final Station. Out Now on Nintendo Switch, exclusively available digitally from the eShop, Will you buy a ticket to ride? </b></em> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px;"></br>When the world ends I hope it’s in a flash of blinding light rather than the slow decay of civilization through some kind of highly infectious pandemic. The whole idea of quarantines, curfews, borders and the cluelessness that would become a by-product of such a crisis would cause many, myself included, to simply huddle into a ball and wait for the inevitable. I’m sure there would be some that would press on, trying to maintain some level of normality to their lives, throwing on their suit and tie and continuing life as if the end wasn’t just around the corner. Our train driver in The Final Station is one such workaholic. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m46SxJLZR6U/Wq42qkuXsqI/AAAAAAAAC0k/K8fLgdyL_rkiA1zcoA6jKaRP8r1U-JO8QCKgBGAs/s1600/final1.jpg" alt = "The Final Station Screenshot 1" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px;"></br></br>The Final Station is the flagship title of the Russian developer Do My Best Games. As an unusual mix of 2D survival horror and train hospitality management, the game see’s you witness the of ending of humanity as a strange virus infects the land and tasks you with ferrying passengers and cargo around the country as you inadvertently uncover the secrets behind the mysterious outbreak and the role you are destined to play in it.</br></br>The title is a 2d Side Scrolling with well-drawn, simplistic, pixel art. Gameplay is split into two distinct phases; the main phase sees your train becoming locked at the railway station of the current town on your journey, requiring an access code to proceed. This leaves you investigating the derelict towns in search of the access code while also scavenging for ammunition, food, medical supplies and crafting materials, fending off a range of infected that you encounter. As you progress you will encounter survivors who will join your train as passengers, staying with you until you reach the next safe town. Any undiscovered rooms are blacked out until you open a door and have a direct line of sight, adding an element of tension to your search as you are never aware of what is waiting for you in each room before you enter.</br></br>Animations, while keeping with the art style are occasionally off-putting with no proper animation for climbing up ladders. This sadly opens up the ability to cheat combat by attacking while in the middle of a ladder, just out of reach of the enemies above you, which, due to the shortage of ammunition in the game, you’ll probably find yourself doing more often than not. </br></br></div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i3-Psu990-Q/Wq43CuebvWI/AAAAAAAAC0o/2PF9a_fpSdkC-RdJXsyhMvkoLGgJjNOtwCKgBGAs/s1600/final2.jpg" alt="The Final Station Screenshot 2" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px;"></br></br> Once you have found the access code and returned to your train, the second phase puts you in charge of taking care of your passengers and cargos as you travel across the country watching humanity slowly crumble around you. Each of your passengers will have two stats, health, and hunger, with the latter slowly ticking away as you make your way between stations. When a passenger’s hunger stat is depleted, or if a passenger is injured, the health statistic will also drop continuously until they simply fade out of existence. Your train cargos must also be constantly managed as allowing your suspension to become unbalanced or your cooling system to malfunction will also adversely affect all of the passengers who are riding on your train. </br></br>Resources are extremely limited and while it is possible to craft health packs and ammunition while on the train, food is so scarce that exploring the entirety of each town is imperative to ensure you have just about enough food for all of your passengers to make it through their multi-stop journey. If you manage to keep your passengers alive between each hub town you are rewarded with upgrades and money to restock supplies before heading out on your train to start the whole process again. </br></br>This whole phase becomes an exercise of spinning plates and annoyingly detracts from the ongoing narrative taking place between the passengers on the train. While it is certainly a change of pace and an interesting contrast from the lonesome one-man experience of traversing barren towns, it’s sadly simply too busy for such a narrative-heavy section and leaves the whole experience feeling incomplete.</div><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; text-align:center;"></br></br></br><img src ="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JMEnVYlJRz0/Wq43SEdNQkI/AAAAAAAAC0s/1VwugLZsqt45Zqn8KisO-VMgBwSnN9Z7wCKgBGAs/s1600/final3.jpg" alt="The Final Station Screenshot 3" style="box-shadow: 5px 5px 5px #999;" /></div> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 80%; float:left; font-size:16px;"></br></br>The Nintendo Switch version also includes the DLC “The Only Traitor”, stripping down the elements that made the base game cumbersome, streamlining the whole process and improving on every element of the original. The content, while similar, Places more focus on melee attacks, with your hand to hand abilities packing much more of a punch, causing you to rely a lot less on scarcely available ammunition and the creative ways you may have cheated the game's combat in the past. Each exploration section tasks you with locating petrol for your car, water, and food, allowing you to progress once you have collected all three. You will still encounter survivors but are only able to take one with you at any time, with each possessing various levels of adeptness in healing, crafting or simply fleshing out the storyline.</br></br>Much like the base game, the DLC also features a secondary phase in between levels, this time you and your lone passenger are driving across country. In this phase, you are free to craft items or talk to your passenger. This simply continues to build up the story and lasts until you decide to move on to the next level. The narrative is as equally interesting in The Only Traitor, though having more impact than the original story simply because you get more of an opportunity to take it all in. </br></br>In Conclusion, The Final Station is an interesting title let down by its often confusing story and occasionally awkward animations. Its short mission structure and pick up and play nature makes it perfectly suited for the Nintendo Switch’s portable capabilities. The slower pace exploration contrasting the hectic train phases may not be for everyone but the Final Station certainly knows what kind of game it wants to be, and it owns that space well. </br></br></br></div> </div> <div class ='contactFormBorder' style ="height:auto; clear:both; margin-bottom:50px;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; text-align:center; font-size:28px;"><b>FOR THE WIN OR FOR THE BIN?</b></br></br></div></br></br><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left: 30px; font-size:16px;"><b> &#43; Lengthy and challenging campaign. </br> &#43; Excellent included DLC. </br> &#43; Well drawn pixel art. </br> </br> &#45; Combat is too easy to expoit. </br> &#45; Train managment detracts frm the story. </b></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-left:50px; font-size:22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust:130%;"></br><b>Verdict: Very Good Job - Recommended Buy </b> </div><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:20px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myPoJcnGFT4/WlUjZXr_8MI/AAAAAAAABgk/U7h7w3chvuQdBs2BVbDzsPfBv9DTcDF1QCKgBGAs/s320/ReviewStarYes.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px" /><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fc_pL2NK9DY/WlUjZUFf-kI/AAAAAAAABgk/BNKLCbO-EcoM-rl_ds-2ofbXDaCDPr2wACKgBGAs/s1600/ReviewStarNO.png" height="90px" style="padding-left:0px; margin-right:0px"/></br></br></br></div> Curtis Chapmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-972897531756508556.post-3493658036760733252018-03-16T23:26:00.000+00:002018-03-30T03:00:02.362+01:00Dive In: Gekido Kintaro's Revenge<div class="showpic"></br><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FNO3ZG8C6oI/WqxPcKGNJuI/AAAAAAAACyw/OpSIdZPvlksN7v1OxT92aV_I_syDnx9ngCKgBGAs/s320/Gekido.png" alt="Review: Gekido" /></div><h3>Watch 10 minutes of attempting to fight off evil with two fists, and falling down a lot. </h3><br/><br/><a name='more'></a><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><div><img src="https://tinyurl.com/ycsanhfu" alt="Join the Conversation!" usemap="#socialMap"/><map name="socialMap"> <area shape="circle" coords="198,97,26" href="https://www.facebook.com/NintendoPlayUK/posts/1850129118618212" target="_blank" alt="React on Facebook"> <area shape="circle" coords="253,97,26" href="https://twitter.com/NPlayUK/status/974789901760782336" target="_blank" alt="React on Twitter"></map> </div></br><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 90%; float:left; font-size:16px;"></br></br>This 10 minute gameplay Dive In looks at Gekido: Kintaro's Revenge, a port of the original Gameboy Advance title landing on the Nintendo Switch 22nd March. With a few extra gameplay modes, some graphic/filter options to tweak and local co-op available using split joy-con, 16 years long enough to wait before reliving this classic. </br></br>All our videos can be found on our <a href ="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3ZOsC9norDqecjeXRkI9FQ" target="_blank"> YouTube Channel </a>. </br></br><b><em>A full review of Gekido: Kintaro's Revenge can be found <a href ="http://www.nintendoplay.co.uk/2018/03/review-gekido-kintaros-revenge.html"> HERE </a> </b></em> </br></br></br></div></br></br> <div style="text-align:center; width:90%" ></br></br><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/orrVOPmcFHw?rel=0&amp;showinfo=0" frameborder="0"gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></div> <div style="clear:both; margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 60%; margin-left:15%; font-size:16px; text-align:center;"></br></br></br><img height='80px' src='https://tinyurl.com/ydfkwfcs' width='80px'/></div></div>Curtis Chapmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-972897531756508556.post-33079908403006241992018-03-15T21:07:00.002+00:002018-03-15T21:17:08.641+00:00Nintendo Labo Toy-Con Garage Explained<div class="showpic"></br><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vw6YQD_LEZo/WqrcX30hVEI/AAAAAAAACyU/M_RKuHGODyQPK2lbptMgNCbW_QXvZj6pwCKgBGAs/s320/NintendoLobo.png" /></div><h3>Make your own cardboard creations! </h3><br/><br/><a name='more'></a><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><div><img src="https://tinyurl.com/ycsanhfu" alt="Join the Conversation!" usemap="#socialMap"/><map name="socialMap"> <area shape="circle" coords="198,97,26" href="https://www.facebook.com/NintendoPlayUK/posts/1849684718662652" target="_blank" alt="React on Facebook"> <area shape="circle" coords="253,97,26" href="https://twitter.com/NPlayUK/status/974393999942352898" target="_blank" alt="React on Twitter"></map> </div> </br><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 90%; float:left; font-size:16px;"></br></br> Nintendo Labo, the hotly anticipated "build your own" accessories that plan to educate and inspire today's youth has its own DIY mode! </BR></BR>While in the initial Reveal Trailer there was a hint that there would be the ability to make your own cardboard experiments (the clip with the cardboard person falling over was a brief indication), Nintendo has just released a trailer showcasing what it's calling Toy-Con Garage. Toy-Con Garage is a stripped down version of the software that makes Nintendo's own Labo kits work, allowing anyone to use the drag-and-drop interface to allow you to assign sounds/events to the button presses or motions that you can perform with your Joy-Con. </BR></BR>Nintendo Labo is just over a month away with the Variety and Robot kits releasing on 27th April. Children and adults everywhere are keen to see whether the DIY cardboard kits are as accurate as the promotional material make them out to be and whether they'll live up to the hype. Only time will tell. </BR></BR><b>Join the conversation on Twitter or Facebook and let us know if you'll be it picking up on launch. </b></br></br> <b> Check out the new Toy-Con Garage trailer below:</b> </br></br></br></div> <div style="text-align:center; width:90%" ><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DleXxy_QJvM?rel=0&amp;showinfo=0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></br><b>Video uploaded by Nintendo</b></div><div style="clear:both; margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; width: 60%; margin-left:15%; font-size:16px; text-align:center;"></br></br></br><img height='80px' src='https://tinyurl.com/ydfkwfcs' width='80px'/></div></div>Curtis Chapmannoreply@blogger.com